Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Drops By 4,100 In July (Photo) - 08/19/26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 19, 2026
Contact Information:
Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist (971) 301-3771
Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT
David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288
Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Drops by 4,100 in July
SALEM, Ore. — In July, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,100 jobs, following a revised gain of 1,300 jobs in June. July’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-1,800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-900), and government (-700). Gains were largest in retail trade (+500 jobs).
In the past 12 months, professional and business services was on a slightly downward trend, declining by 2,500 jobs, or 1.0%. Most of the decline was in management of companies and enterprises, which cut 2,200 jobs, or 4.6%, in that time. The other two component industries saw little change during that period: professional and technical services (+200 jobs, or 0.2%) and administrative and waste services (-500 jobs, or -0.5%).
Leisure and hospitality employed 203,800 in July, which was 3,500 jobs below its average of 207,300 from 2023 through 2025. It cut 3,800 jobs since January, following a very flat trend during the prior three years. Despite recent weakness, its component industry arts, entertainment, and recreation added 200 jobs in July to reach a record high of 31,300.
Oregon’s government sector lost 4,500 jobs, or -1.4%, since July 2025. All components cut since July 2025. Federal government dropped 1,600 jobs, or -5.7%; state government lost 200 jobs, or -0.4%; and local government job counts declined by 2,700, or -1.1%.
Retail trade added 500 jobs in July, but that follows a consistent long-term trend of job declines during the past four years. It employed 198,000 in July, which was a drop of 12,700 jobs, or 6.0%, since July 2022.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in July. It has been 5.2% each month since January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in June and 4.1% in July.
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the July county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for August on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
About Workforce and Economic Research
The Workforce and Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department develops and distributes quality economic and workforce information to help Oregonians make informed decisions and support a thriving economy. Staff collect data from state and federal records and surveys; analyze the available information; and share insights with the public in a variety of ways, including regular reports, publications, and the website, QualityInfo.org.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.
El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.
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