Central Oregon unemployment rates hold steady at year’s end; state’s benchmark updates will paint clearer 2023 picture
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates held steady once again across Central Oregon in December, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday, but the annual revision of benchmarks by economists means a clearer picture of jobs in 2023 will come this spring.
They offered "an important note, these estimates are already in the process of annual benchmark revisions. A more detailed year-in-review will be available after the release of these revisions in March."
In the meantime, here's the December report:
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate saw little to no movement over the month of December and remains at 5.7%—in December of last year, it was 6.2%. The unemployment rate remains 1.2 percentage points above the record low set before the pandemic when it was 4.5%.
Crook County lost 110 jobs in December, with most losses occurring in the public sector (-30 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (-30 jobs). Employment levels in Crook County are now 7.3% above pre-pandemic levels in February 2020 (+490 jobs).
The county lost 400 jobs in the last year (-5.4%). Job losses were concentrated in construction (-150 jobs), information (-100 jobs), and government (-90 jobs). These losses were slightly offset by job gains concentrated in private education and health services (+50 jobs), financial activities (+20 jobs), and other services (+20 jobs).
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.6% as of December, unchanged from 3.6% in November. The unemployment rate in December remains 0.2 percentage point above its record low of 3.4%, set before the onset of the pandemic.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Deschutes County gained 500 jobs (0.5%) in December, and total nonfarm employment is now 96,950. These are preliminary estimates that are subject to annual benchmark revisions using payroll tax records that will be released with the January estimates.
Total nonfarm employment expanded by 5.9% (+5,420 jobs) from December 2022. Both leisure and hospitality and private education and health services led private industry growth with an over-the-year gain of 1,350 jobs each. Other notable gains were in the public sector (+750 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (+630 jobs), with most of the growth experienced in retail trade (+530 jobs); professional and business services (+580 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (+450 jobs). Over-the-year losses occurred in financial activities (-80 jobs); and information (-70 jobs).
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady over the month of December at 4.4%. This is the third month this year that the unemployment rate matched the historically low unemployment rate we saw from October 2019 to December 2019, shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19.
Total nonfarm employment decreased by 80 jobs in December (-1.2%). Employment gains were concentrated in manufacturing (+20 jobs). Job losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (-30 jobs); government (-20 jobs); retail trade (-20 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (-20 jobs). All other industries registered little to no change over the month. Total nonfarm seasonally adjusted employment is now 1.0% (+70 jobs) above the pre-pandemic employment level.
Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment increased by 300 over the past year (4.7%). Job gains were concentrated in the public sector (+180 jobs); private education and health services (+60 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+50 jobs). Losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-30 jobs) and construction (-30 jobs).
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the January county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, March 5, and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for January on Tuesday, March 5.
