Shutdown to delay Oregon job nos., jobless rates

Due to the recent shutdown of the federal government, the monthly release of the Oregon statewide and local employment and unemployment numbers will be delayed, officials said Friday.

Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate for September was scheduled to be released on Tuesday, October 15, while the local rates were scheduled to be released on Monday, October 21.

The Oregon Employment Department’s Workforce and Economic Research Division works closely with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics to produce the monthly unemployment rate and employment information.

With the recent shutdown of many agencies of the federal government, including BLS, vital data needed for calculating Oregon’s job figures for September are unavailable, the state agency said.

“At this time we do not know when this data might become available,” Friday’s statement said. “We will be in close contact with BLS staff when they are able to return to their duties, and at that time will release a revised schedule for posting the statewide and local employment and unemployment rates.”

In the meantime, Oregon’s employment data through August is available on the agency’s website, www.QualityInfo.org.