Oregon’s jobless rate rises a bit again, to 4.6%, highest in over 3 years
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon’s unemployment rate rose a bit to 4.6% in March, from 4.5% in February, continuing a gradual rise seen over the past year, the Oregon Employment Department reported Wednesday.
Oregon’s 4.6% unemployment rate was the highest since August 2021, when the rate was 4.7%, and slightly higher than during the three years prior to the COVID recession that started in 2020. It's now up a half-percent from the 4.1% rate seen in March 2024.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in March and 4.1% in February.
In March, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 7,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 1,600 jobs in February. March’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+4,600 jobs); professional and business services (+1,000); other services (+800); and wholesale trade (+700). None of the other major industries had a job change of more than 400 jobs.
The return of workers who were on strike at a major health care provider contributed to the one-month gain of 4,600 jobs in health care and social assistance during March. This industry has been leading private-sector job growth in Oregon over the past few years. It added 18,400 jobs, or 6.2%, in the 12 months through March, continuing a three-year streak of rapid growth.
Professional and business services added jobs in each of the first three months of the year, with gains totaling 4,500 jobs in that time. This reversed a generally declining trend in the industry during the prior two years, when it shed 5,400 jobs during the 24 months ending December 2024.
Other services – an industry which includes religious organizations, membership associations, personal services, laundry services, and repair and maintenance services – has expanded steadily for more than four years. It employed 69,300 in March and is now well above its pre-pandemic high of 65,700 jobs in January 2020.
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the March county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, April 22, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for April on Wednesday, May 14.
