Central Oregon unemployment rates rise; here’s the sectors where jobs were gained or lost

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are up year-over-year in all three Central Oregon counties, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday.

Here's the complete report they issued:

Bend MSA (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties): MSA seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are not available at the moment, but more data should be available by the end of the month. For county data, see below.  

The Bend MSA lost 560 jobs (-0.5%) from October to November, with the largest losses occurring in professional and business services (-310 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (-170 jobs); the public sector (-130 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (-100 jobs). Private-sector job gains were less widespread and concentrated within trade, transportation, and utilities (+150 jobs) and private education and health services (+80 jobs). Smaller but notable losses took place in manufacturing (-60 jobs), information (-10 jobs), and other services (-10 jobs).  

Total nonfarm employment increased by 1.8% (+2,030 jobs) from November 2024 to November 2025. Over the year, private job gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+1,110 jobs), private education and health services (+700 jobs), and other services (+260 jobs). Smaller gains were also seen in mining, logging, and construction (+40 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+20 jobs). 

Private-sector losses were not as widespread and concentrated in information (-390 jobs), professional and business services (-170 jobs), financial activities (-110 jobs), and manufacturing (-60 jobs). The public sector gained 630 jobs over the year with all gains occurring at the local government level (+840 jobs) –federal government employment decreased by 140 jobs over the year while state government employment was down 70 jobs. 

Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9% in November 2025, up 0.8 percentage point from the previous year. Outside of the pandemic recession, the last time the unemployment rate was 5.9% was in 2016.  

Crook County lost 140 jobs (-1.9%) over the month. Losses were concentrated within leisure and hospitality (-40 jobs); professional and business services (-20 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (-20 jobs). 

Public-sector employment shed 60 jobs with federal government losing 40 jobs and local government losing 20 jobs. Private-sector gains were minimal and occurred in the information industry (+10 jobs). All other major industries saw little to no change over the month.  

Over the past year, the county lost 300 jobs (-3.9%). Losses were concentrated within the information industry (-270 jobs) and mostly occurred due to a change in the way the data was reported. Otherwise, losses occurred in government (-50 jobs); professional and business services (-30 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-30 jobs); manufacturing (-10 jobs); and private education and health services (-10 jobs). 

Over the year, job gains were not as widespread and were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+60 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (+30 jobs); and other services (+10 jobs). 

Deschutes County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in November 2025, up from 4.1% in November 2024. Outside of the pandemic recession, the last time it was this high was in 2016, and it is 1.6 percentage points above its record low of 3.3% before the onset of the pandemic. 

Deschutes County lost 400 jobs (-0.4%) from October to November, with the largest losses occurring in professional and business services (-300 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (-140 jobs); the public sector (-90 jobs); and manufacturing (-80 jobs).

Within the public sector, losses were concentrated in federal government (-70 jobs) and local government (-30 jobs). Smaller but notable private-sector losses also occurred in leisure and hospitality (-30 jobs), information (-20 jobs), and other services (-10 jobs).

Private-sector job gains were less widespread and concentrated within trade, transportation, and utilities (+170 jobs) with the majority of gains taking place in retail trade (+150 jobs); private education and health services (+80 jobs); and financial activities (+20 jobs).  

Total nonfarm employment increased by 2.5% (+2,410 jobs) from November 2024 to November 2025. Over the year, private job gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+970 jobs) with more than half (+590 jobs) of gains taking place in accommodation and food services; private education and health services (+750 jobs); and other services (+130 jobs). Smaller gains were also seen in manufacturing (+90 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+20 jobs).

Over the year, private-sector losses were concentrated in information (-120 jobs); financial activities (-100 jobs); professional and business services (-40 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (-40 jobs). The public sector gained 750 jobs over the year, with all gains occurring at the local government level (+910 jobs) – federal government employment decreased by 120 jobs over the year while state government employment was down 40 jobs. 

Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9% in November 2025, up 1.3 percentage points from November 2024. Like the other two counties, the last time the unemployment rate was this high, outside of the pandemic recession, was 2016. Shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19 were felt, the rate was 4.3%. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased by 10 jobs (-0.2%) over the month of November. Losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (-30 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (-20 jobs); and other services (-10 jobs). Gains were marginal and concentrated in government (+30 jobs), specifically in local government (+20 jobs) and state government (+10 jobs), with minor gains also seen in manufacturing (+20 jobs). Very little movement was seen otherwise with little to no change in all other industries.  

Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment decreased by 90 jobs over the past year (-1.3%). Gains were minimal and concentrated within the private sector with other services gaining 40 jobs over the year. Private-sector losses were more widespread and were recorded in manufacturing (-80 jobs); professional and business services (-30 jobs); and private education and health services (-10 jobs); and government (-10 jobs). 

Next Press Releases 

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for December on Thursday, Jan. 22 and county and metropolitan area unemployment rates and employment survey data on Tuesday, Jan. 27.