While the number of job-holders in Curry County started to grow for the summer in April, the total numbers lagged behind a year earlier, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

The Curry County labor report for April showed 8,613 workers employed in April, up 152 jobs from March, but down 175 jobs from April 2007.

April 200 8 in Curry County, said the state report, "brought a gain of 70 payroll jobs, mostly in the leisure and hospitality sector."

The state reported a 7.3 percent unemployment rate for the county in April, compared to 8.5 percent in March and 6.8 percent in April 2007.

For comparison, the Coos County jobless rate was reported as 7.5 percent, the state rate as 5.6 percent, and the national rate as 4.8 percent.

Offsetting some of those job gains in Curry County were continued losses in construction, manufacturing and local government, according to the state report.

Details of the monthly report and other economic figures are available from the Oregon Employment Department are available online at http://www.QualityInfo.org.