Oregon unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% in June

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon's unemployment rate remained at 5.2% in June, unchanged from the previous month and one year ago, while the U.S. rate stood at 4.2%. Oregon employers cut 600 jobs from nonfarm payrolls in June and total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 8,500 jobs between June 2025 and June 2026.

The state's 5.2% unemployment rate in June matched the rate in May and June of last year. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in June, showing little change from 4.3% in May or 4.1% one year ago. The 600 job cuts in June followed a revised gain of 2,500 jobs in May. The overall decline in nonfarm payroll employment between June 2025 and June 2026 represents a 0.4% loss. Both the private and public sectors experienced job losses over the past year, with private-sector employment falling by 5,400 jobs, or 0.3%, and government employment decreasing by 3,100 jobs, a 1.0% decline.

Private health care and social assistance continued to lead job growth in Oregon. This sector added 14,000 jobs over the past year, marking a gain of 4.5%. Within this sector, growth was strongest in social assistance, which saw an 8.6% increase and nursing and residential care facilities, which grew by 5.3%. Ambulatory health care services added 2.6% in jobs and hospitals increased by 0.5%, though at slower rates.Manufacturing employment in Oregon continued its decline, with manufacturers losing 10,000 jobs over the past year, a decrease of 5.6%. This loss included a 4.6% drop in durable goods employment, which accounted for 5,800 jobs. Nondurable goods manufacturing also saw a significant reduction, losing 4,200 jobs, a 7.7% decline.