New job numbers show that Douglas County not only lost jobs in 2008, but ended up being near the bottom of the state’s 105 counties when it came to job growth totals.

The most recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Douglas County as one of only 33 counties in the state that saw its overall job totals decline in 2008. Douglas County was the only one of the five urban counties to see a decline in job totals.

“The numbers just show that Lawrence is not immune to recession,” said Tom Kern, president and CEO of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. “The days of when down cycles in the economy had minimal impact on the community are just not so anymore.”

The number of jobs in Douglas County is at its lowest point since 2003, according to the report. City and economic development leaders said the national downturn in the real estate industry was key to the decline.

Kern said that in the 1990s and earlier this decade, jobs building homes in Lawrence had become a major part of the local economy. In addition, several local manufacturers — think Amarr Garage Door and Sauer Danfoss’ construction equipment business — had become reliant on a booming real estate market. All those companies have reduced the number of jobs they have in the county over the past year.

The report found that in 2008, the average number of jobs in Douglas County stood at 47,055. That’s down from 48,204, or a decline of about 2.3 percent. The decline of 1,149 jobs was the largest decrease of actual jobs of any county in the state, although several counties posted larger percentage drops.

The report also indicated the job losses have been occurring steadily for more than a year. The report measures monthly job totals and compares them to the same month from the previous year. Using that measure, Douglas County has had 13 consecutive months of job losses.

Lawrence Mayor Rob Chestnut said the results were disappointing, especially given that Douglas County has many advantages other Kansas counties do not, such as a state university and good geography that places it near a major metropolitan area.

“We’re suffering from what I see as a lack of focus on economic development for the last five to seven years,” Chestnut said.

Several area groups are working to bring more focus to the issue with a “forum on job growth” being planned for late October. Kern said the chamber, city, county, League of Women Voters and The World Company are working to be host to the event at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Lawrence High School.

“It will be a grassroots program to bring people together to have a conversation about what limits job growth in Lawrence,” Kern said. “These statistics clearly show a disturbing trend because you can’t sustain a community with declining job growth.”

The report listed 2008 average job totals for all counties in the state. Here’s a look at the performance of some area counties:

• Franklin County: 9,584 jobs, down 219 jobs or 2.2 percent.

• Jefferson County: 3,624 jobs, up 60 jobs or 1.6 percent.

• Johnson County: 317,770 jobs, up 1,037 jobs or 0.3 percent.

• Leavenworth County: 20,903 jobs, up 425 jobs or 2 percent

• Riley County: 29,275 jobs, up 1,508 jobs or 5.4 percent.

• Shawnee County: 95,776 jobs, up 790 jobs or 0.8 percent.

• Wyandotte County: 80,994 jobs, up 78 jobs or less than 0.1 percent.