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Central Oregon jobless rates hold steady as 2024 comes to a close; employment levels rose over the year

Central Oregon jobless rates held steady in December, as they have for several months.
Oregon Employment Department
Central Oregon jobless rates held steady in December, as they have for several months.

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon's seasonally adjusted unemployment rates continued to hold steady in December, showing little to no change across the region, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday. Total nonfarm employment increased year-over-year in all three counties.

Here's the full December report:

Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased marginally over the month of December and is now 5.4%, down from 5.5% in November—in December of last year, it was 5.9%. The unemployment rate is 0.9 percentage point above the record low set before the pandemic, when it was 4.5%.

Crook County lost 120 jobs (-1.6%) in December, consistent with seasonal norms. Most losses occurred in the public sector, leisure and hospitality, and construction (-30 jobs each). Gains were minimal and seen in manufacturing (+10 jobs).

The county gained 60 jobs in the last year (+0.8%). Notable job gains were seen in trade, transportation, and utilities (+40 jobs); information (+30 jobs); private education and health services (+20 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (+20 jobs). Job losses were concentrated in the public sector with a loss of 50 jobs over the year, while in the private sector losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-30 jobs) and mining and logging (-20 jobs).

Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged from November to December at 4.0%. In December 2023 the unemployment rate was slightly lower at 3.8%. The unemployment rate remains 0.7 percentage point above its record low of 3.3% before the onset of the pandemic.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Deschutes County lost 250 jobs (-0.3%) from November to December and total nonfarm employment is now 98,600. Job losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (-270 jobs); government (-160 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (-100 jobs). Most gains were seen in trade, transportation, and utilities (+210 jobs) and private education and health services (+160 jobs).

Total nonfarm employment increased by 3.9% (+3,700 jobs) from December 2023 to December 2024. Over-the-year job gains were concentrated in private education and health services (+1,370 jobs); the public sector (+760 jobs); and professional and business services (+430 jobs). Other notable gains took place in trade, transportation, and utilities (+370 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (+250 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (+240 jobs). The only over-the-year losses occurred within the information industry which lost 10 jobs over the year.

Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in December, holding firm at 4.6% after a slight downward revision to November’s rates. Last year the unemployment rate was 4.7% in December. Shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19 were felt the rate was 4.3%.

Total nonfarm employment lost 20 jobs in December (-0.3%) with losses concentrated in professional and business services (-20 jobs). Minor losses were also seen in construction and leisure and hospitality (-10 jobs each). Over-the-month job gains occurred within manufacturing (+10 jobs) and financial activities (+10 jobs), while all other major industries saw little to no change over the month.

Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment increased by 90 jobs over the past year (+1.4%). Job gains were concentrated in manufacturing (+70 jobs); private education and health services (+50 jobs); government (+30 jobs); and other services (+20 jobs). Losses were seen primarily within professional and business services (-30 jobs); construction (-30 jobs); and financial activities (-20 jobs).

Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the January county and metropolitan area unemployment rates and employment survey data on Tuesday, March 11, and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for January on Monday, March 10.       

Article Topic Follows: Business

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Barney Lerten

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