Oregon jobless rate falls to 6% — before latest COVID-19 freeze took effect

State had recovered nearly half of the jobs lost in the spring; online shopping-related jobs fare well; leisure and hospitality suffers

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon’s unemployment rate fell to 6% in November from a revised 6.8% in October, the Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday, but noted that the jobs data came from before the recent statewide COVID-19 "freeze."

The new figure put Oregon’s rate below the U.S. unemployment rate, which dropped to 6.7% in November from 6.9% in October.

“On Nov. 18th, Oregon implemented a ‘freeze’ to combat the rise of COVID-19 in the state. This employment press release covers Oregon’s employment situation just prior to the ongoing freeze, which has affected employers and tens of thousands of workers in recent weeks,” said Gail Krumenauer, state employment economist with the Oregon Employment Department.

Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,200 jobs in November, following a revised gain of 9,800 jobs in October.

Oregon employers added jobs in each of the past seven months, and the state has recovered 46% of the jobs cut in March and April. Over the past five months, the rate of job growth slowed. Monthly growth averaged 9,600 jobs in September and October, while more rapid gains averaging 17,000 per month occurred in July and August.

Over-the-month job gains in November were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+3,100 jobs); professional and business services (+2,600); manufacturing (+1,700); and health care and social assistance (+1,500). Monthly losses were concentrated in construction (-2,300 jobs); government (-1,800); and retail trade (-1,100).

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities added the most jobs in November and was the only major industry to add jobs since November 2019. Online shopping is booming, and the industry has hired thousands of workers to keep up with demand in warehouses and for delivery drivers. The industry is up 7,500 jobs, or 10.3%, since November 2019.

Leisure and hospitality added 300 jobs in November, following a revised gain of 3,300 in October. However, these gains recovered only a fraction of the 110,500 jobs cut in March and April.

The industry—which is includes restaurants, bars, motels, and arts, entertainment, and recreation employers—has been the hardest hit industry due to the pandemic. In November, it employed 161,300 in Oregon, nearly 25% fewer than in November 2019, when it employed 214,900.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the November county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Dec. 22, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for December on Wednesday, Jan. 20.