Central Oregon jobless rates hold steady in August; some job losses reported
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- All three Central Oregon counties saw little to no change in their seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August, with marginally higher rates year-over-year, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday.
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased over the month of August and is now 5.8%, down from 6.0% in July—in August of last year, it was 5.7%. The unemployment rate remains 1.6 percentage points above the record low set before the pandemic when it was 4.5%.
Crook County saw no change in total nonfarm employment over the month of August. In other words, job losses canceled out job gains over the month. While local government added 20 jobs, manufacturing; mining, logging, and construction; and trade, transportation, and utilities all gained 10 jobs. These gains were counterbalanced by an equal number of job losses in leisure and hospitality (-40) and private education and health services (-10), however.
The county gained 250 jobs in the last year (+3.3%). Notable job gains were seen in government (+90 jobs); construction (+80 jobs); information (+40 jobs); and retail trade (+40 jobs). Job losses were concentrated in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20 jobs).
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly from 4.1% in July to 4.0% in August. August’s unemployment rate remains 0.6 percentage point above its record low of 3.4% before the onset of the pandemic.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Deschutes County lost 170 jobs (-0.2%) from July to August. Job losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (-390 jobs) and retail trade (-100 jobs). Gains were seen primarily within private education and health services (+230 jobs) and government (+110 jobs). The increase in government employment was primarily within local education (+140 jobs).
Total nonfarm employment is now 95,650 and declined by 0.6% (-590 jobs) from August 2023 to August 2024. Over the year, job losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (-1,590 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (-530 jobs). Other notable job losses took place in mining, logging, and construction (-310 jobs); professional and business services (-140 jobs); and manufacturing (-120 jobs). Most over-the-year gains occurred in private education and health services (+1,280 jobs), with smaller gains in the public sector (+850).
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged over the month of August, standing at 4.7%. Last year the unemployment rate was 4.6% in August and 4.4% from October 2019 to December 2019, shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19.
Total nonfarm employment shed 40 jobs in August (-0.6%) with losses occurring in local government (-20 jobs); manufacturing (-10 jobs); financial activities (-10 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (-10 jobs). Private-sector job gains took place in trade, transportation, and utilities (+10 jobs). Total nonfarm seasonally adjusted employment is now -1.3% (-90 jobs) below the pre-pandemic employment level.
Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment decreased by 90 jobs over the past year (-1.3%). Job gains were concentrated in private education and health services (+50 jobs); government (+30 jobs); other services (+10 jobs); and information (+10 jobs). Losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-160 jobs), with minor losses in retail trade (-10 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-10 jobs); and financial activities (-10 jobs).
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates and employment survey data on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for September on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
