A regional economist said Coos County hasn't seen a February unemployment rate higher than this year's in more than two decades.

The latest South Coast labor statistics released Monday by the regional Oregon Employment Department indicate Coos County's unemployment rate rose more than 1 percent between January and February. It now stands at 13.8 percent, up from 12.7 percent the previous month. Last February, the unemployment rate stood at 7.8 percent.

The last time Coos County's unemployment rate was higher in February was 1985, when it was 15.4 percent, said department economist Guy Tauer.

Tauer thinks the economy will have to bottom out before consumers begin spending again. Once that happens, businesses could start hiring again.

"We've just been in this hunker-down mentality," Tauer said. "We've been bombarded with negative economic news."

Curry County's unemployment rate climbed from 13.8 to 14.9 percent in the same month. Its unemployment rate was 7.9 percent a year ago. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went from 11.2 percent to 12.5 percent between January and February. The county saw a decline of 220 payroll jobs, a 3.3 percent loss over the year, with both construction and manufacturing sectors declining by about 12 percent over the year.

Oregon's statewide unemployment rate also shot up a full percentage point to 10.8 percent last month, the highest rate since July 1983, and well ahead of the national rate of 8.1 percent.

"We should not feel singled out in our malaise," Tauer stated in a press release. "Oregon statewide has seen a doubling of its unemployment rate and the estimated number of unemployed over the past year."

Tauer said January through March is typically the slowest time for businesses.

"It tends to be the highest unemployment rates of the year," he said.

In Coos County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 11.2 percent in January to 12.4 percent in February. Total payroll employment fell by 400 jobs over the year. The construction and manufacturing sectors suffered the biggest losses, with over-the-year declines of 130 jobs each, 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Losses in each of these sectors in February were slight, however, with construction dropping 20 jobs, and no losses in manufacturing.

Wood products-related businesses, the majority of which are sawmills, dropped 90 jobs during the year from February to February.

Although retail businesses shed 20 jobs in February, they added 40 over the year. The trend went the opposite direction for the tourism-reliant leisure and hospitality sector, which gained 20 jobs in February, but lost 110 jobs over the past year.

"It's a combination of less tourism as well as people who live here spending less in restaurants," Tauer said.

Over the year, government employment trends were mixed in Coos County. Preliminary estimates showed state and local government jobs declined by 20 and 40 jobs, respectively, whereas federal jobs increased by 30.

The number of unemployed people who are seeking jobs rose from 3,651 to 4,044 between January and February in Coos County. These are not only people who have filed unemployment insurance claims, but individuals who are not employed, are available for work and have made specific attempts to find a job in the prior four weeks, according to www.QualityInfo.org, an Employment Department Web site.

The numbers can be deceiving, since the civilian labor force also rose from 28,809 to 29,302. The labor force fluctuates throughout the year, according to Debbie Sargent, supervisor with Business & Employment Services. She said things that can influence this number include factors such as the U.S. Coast Guard returning from deployment.