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News Release

Press Release: Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 5.2% In September (Photo) - 12/10/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Dec. 10, 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 5.2% in September
 
Today, the Oregon Employment Department released monthly employment and unemployment data for September 2025, after a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown.
 
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in September and 5.0% in August, after increasing for much of the past two years from the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in August and 4.4% in September.
 
In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,500 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,300 jobs); construction (+700); and professional and business services (+700). Losses were largest in financial activities (-700 jobs).
 
Health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion of the past several years, adding 11,400 jobs, or 3.7%, between September 2024 and September 2025.
 
Construction employment was down slightly this summer compared with the two prior summers. September employment totaled 116,100 jobs, which was 1,600 jobs, or 1.4%, below its level in September 2024.
 
Professional and business services added 700 in September but lost jobs since early 2023. Since its peak of 268,900 jobs in March 2023, it has declined to 253,700 jobs in September (-15,200 jobs, or 5.7%). Each of the three component industries trended downward since early 2023. Over the last 12 months, cutbacks were as follows: administrative and waste services (-4,900 jobs or -4.8%); professional and technical services (-2,300 jobs, or -2.1%); and management of companies and enterprises (-1,000 jobs, or -2.0%).
 
Manufacturing slipped by 200 jobs in September and is down 9,600 jobs, or 5.1%, since September 2024, with both durable goods manufacturing and nondurable goods manufacturing each down close to 5%.
 
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October and November on Wednesday, Jan. 7. 
 
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Attached Media Files: Employment_in_Oregon_September_2025_Press_Release.pdf,

Press Release: Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 5.2% In September (Photo) - 12/10/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Dec. 10, 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 5.2% in September
 
Today, the Oregon Employment Department released monthly employment and unemployment data for September 2025, after a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown.
 
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in September and 5.0% in August, after increasing for much of the past two years from the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in August and 4.4% in September.
 
In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,500 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,300 jobs); construction (+700); and professional and business services (+700). Losses were largest in financial activities (-700 jobs).
 
Health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion of the past several years, adding 11,400 jobs, or 3.7%, between September 2024 and September 2025.
 
Construction employment was down slightly this summer compared with the two prior summers. September employment totaled 116,100 jobs, which was 1,600 jobs, or 1.4%, below its level in September 2024.
 
Professional and business services added 700 in September but lost jobs since early 2023. Since its peak of 268,900 jobs in March 2023, it has declined to 253,700 jobs in September (-15,200 jobs, or 5.7%). Each of the three component industries trended downward since early 2023. Over the last 12 months, cutbacks were as follows: administrative and waste services (-4,900 jobs or -4.8%); professional and technical services (-2,300 jobs, or -2.1%); and management of companies and enterprises (-1,000 jobs, or -2.0%).
 
Manufacturing slipped by 200 jobs in September and is down 9,600 jobs, or 5.1%, since September 2024, with both durable goods manufacturing and nondurable goods manufacturing each down close to 5%.
 
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October and November on Wednesday, Jan. 7. 
 
###

Attached Media Files: Employment_in_Oregon_September_2025_Press_Release.pdf,