Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged At 5.2% In February (Photo) - 04/15/26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 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 Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged at 5.2% in February
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in both February and January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4% in February and 4.3% in January.
In February, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 5,400 jobs, following a gain of 1,600 jobs, as revised, in January. February’s gains were largest in financial activities (+800 jobs). Losses were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-1,500); and professional and business services (-1,300).
Financial activities added 800 jobs in February, which was a rare monthly gain for the industry after persistent declines over the past three years. It employed 99,800 in February, which was down 1,100 jobs, or -1.1%, since February 2025.
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities employment was choppy in recent months, cutting 1,600 jobs in February following a gain of 1,500 in January. It employed 78,400 in February, which was 400 jobs, or 0.5%, above its year-ago level and close to its average employment throughout much of the past five years.
Leisure and hospitality cut 1,500 jobs in February following a gain of 1,200 in January. During the prior three years, it was remarkably steady, averaging just over 207,000 jobs.
Professional and business services continued its downtrend of the past three years, cutting 1,300 jobs in February and another 2,000 jobs in January. In the most recent 12 months, it cut 8,700 jobs, or 3.4%. Since February 2025, each of its three component industries contracted by more than 2%: administrative and waste services (-4,200 jobs, or -4.3%); professional and technical services (-3,200 jobs, or -2.9%); and management of companies and enterprises (-1,300 jobs, or -2.7%).
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the February county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data on Tuesday, April 21, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for March on Friday, May 1.
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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