Oregon's jobless rate jumped to a shocking 12.1% (up from 10.7%) in March. Although full data has not yet been released, it is possible that the jump will make Oregon the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country ? a role that currently belongs to Michigan with a 12% jobless rate. Oregon's unemployment rate has been climbing for 14 straight months, with construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities industries being hit the hardest in terms of job losses.
See "Oregon's jobless rate soars to 12.1% in March", Ryan Kost, The Seattle Times, April 13, 2009