Employment keeps falling

Nonfarm employment has been revised, based on employer tax returns from the fourth quarter of 2008, according to regional economist for the State Employment Security Department, Scott Bailey.

Preliminary job counts have been lowered by about 2,300 jobs. Construction employment was knocked down by 1,000 jobs, food services by 400 jobs, manufacturing by 300 jobs, finance by 300 jobs, business services by 300 jobs, and health care & social assistance by 300 jobs.

Clark County added 200 nonfarm jobs in May, to reach a total of 131,500 jobs. Seasonally adjusted employment fell by 300. Since last May, the county has lost 4,600 jobs (-3.4 percent).  Changes at the industry level were small over the month and tended to follow typical seasonal patterns.

Construction employment rose by 100 jobs in May, slightly below the seasonal norm. The total of 9,800 was 2,400 fewer jobs than a year ago

Manufacturing slipped by 100 jobs in electronics. The total of 12,600 was 1,100 below the year-ago level.

Trade, transportation and utilities added 100 seasonal jobs in retail trade.  Wholesale trade was unchanged at 5,300 jobs, 100 below a year ago. Retailers employed 15,400, down 400 from last May

Information services was unchanged in May at 2,600 jobs, 100 less than a year ago.

Education and health services sent out 18,900 paychecks in May, the same as in April.  The sector has added 600 jobs over the year, including 700 in health care.

Leisure and hospitality employment added 200 food service jobs in May to reach a total of 13,100, 500 lower than a year ago. Art, entertainment & recreation services employ 300 fewer than they did last May, while food services are down 200.

Vail Horton to address
Clark College graduates

Vail Horton is the guest speaker at Clark College’s 75th anniversary commencement at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18, in the Amphitheatre of Clark County, 17200 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield.

Horton is the founder and CEO of Keen Mobility Company and founder and chairman of The Insight Foundation. Born without legs and improper bone growth in his arms, Vail Horton has said that he has “a true calling to change the world for the better, focusing on the elderly and disabled.”

Clark College is the second largest community and technical college in Washington state.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, 1,276 men and women have earned degrees and certificates from Clark College. Three-hundred-fifty-five graduates are expected to take part in the commencement ceremony.

Wilbert Kalmbach, a World War II veteran, first took classes at Clark in 1947.  Continuing his studies, he believed that he would take part in the college’s 1969 commencement ceremony.  But, for reasons that are unclear, a diploma – received by mail – was never entered into the college’s records.  

Forty years after he believed he would be taking part in this ceremony, more than 62 years since he took his first class at Clark College, Wilbert Kalmbach will finally get to march as a Clark College penguin,  receiving an associate of arts degree from Clark College President Bob Knight. The evening will be a Kalmbach family event. Kalmbach’s great nephew, Richard Alan Kalmbach, is among the 2009 graduates.

Cuts in staff, programs and pay
loom for Battle Ground Schools

The Battle Ground School District could lose as many as 30 teaching positions in 2009-2010, the district announced today.

Other budget cuts being proposed include 4 percent cuts in base salary for the superintendent, district administrators, principals, and assistant principals and the elimination of one district administrative position – director of student services; five to 10 unpaid furlough days for secretaries, custodians, para-educators and other “classified” employees. The unpaid days would amount to a 3.8 percent pay cut for these employees.

Educators could lose two on-teaching work days, for an overall reduction of 3.8 percent in total certificated-employees’ compensation.

These cuts are in addition to the state-mandated loss of a 4.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment that was scheduled for all employee groups in 2009-10.

Even these cuts in personnel and payroll would not make up the district’s approximate $5.5 million shortfall in state funding. Consequently, programs will face cuts. Some extracurricular activities and classes with fewer than 25 students will come under particular scrutiny, says Battle Ground Schools Superintendent Shonny Bria.

News briefs

Vancouver-based MacKay & Sposito is celebrating its 35th year with a picnic barbecue lunch at noon, Thursday, June 25, at 1325 SE Tech Center Drive. Call Stephanie Hadley, 823-1322, for reservations. <> Washington State University Vancouver is holding a neighborhood meeting in room 129, in the administration building on the campus. The meeting is 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. Parking is free in orange lots 1 and 3.

Calendar

The Volcano Views and Brews presentation in the Lucky Labrador 1945 NW Quimby Street, Portland is at 7 p.m. tonight, June 16.

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar