The Oregon Employment Department announces the unemployment rate for June is at 9.3%. The numbers have remained fairly flat for the past few months. State Employment Economist Nick Belieciks says while the numbers are much better than the same time just a few years ago: “Oregon’s unemployment rate has come down from a high of 11.6% as seen in June, 2009. The number of unemployed Oregonians continues to fall and at it's lowest point since December of 2008, but there are still 179,000 people currently still looking for work." Belieciks says one reason is: although 1300 jobs were added in June, the building and leisure - hospitality industries had significant losses, possibly due to cooler weather and discretionary spending habits.” On a brighter note, he adds that Oregon has come a long way in reducing the jobless numbers, and we have dropped out of the top 10 in the nation for unemployment.