Oregon Employment Department

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News Release

Press Release: Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 4.7% In April (Photo) -05/14/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2025

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 Unemployment Rate Was 4.7% in April

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in April and 4.6% in March, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in April 2024. Oregon’s 4.7% unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in both March and April.

In April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1,200 jobs, following a revised gain of 6,200 jobs in March. April’s gains were largest in leisure and hospitality (+3,300 jobs) and professional and business services (+900). Declines were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,300 jobs) and other services          (-600). None of the other major industries had a change of more than 400 jobs.

Leisure and hospitality had a larger-than-expected increase in seasonal hiring in April, adding 3,300 jobs. The April jobs total of 212,700 was 5,600 jobs, or 2.7%, above its average during the prior two years. Its component industry arts, entertainment, and recreation added 500 jobs in April, to reach a record high of 30,200. During the past two years it has expanded consistently. Meanwhile, the other component industry—accommodation and food services—is estimated to have grown rapidly this year, adding 2,800 jobs in April and 5,000 jobs so far this year, following slight declines over the prior two years.

Construction employment slipped by 200 jobs in April to a total of 114,600 jobs, continuing a gradual downward trend. Since reaching a peak of 119,000 jobs in June 2023 construction has shed 4,400 jobs, or -3.7%.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities cut 1,300 jobs in April, following a gradual gain of nearly the same amount during the prior 12 months. Most of the April loss occurred in couriers and messengers which cut 800 jobs in April and shed 1,200 jobs since April 2024.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the April county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, May 20, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for May on Wednesday, June 18.

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Press Release: Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 4.6% In March (Photo) -04/16/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 16, 2025

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 Unemployment Rate Was 4.6% in March

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.6% in March and 4.5% in February, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in March 2024. 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. 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.

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