Oregon added 2,400 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, continuing a trend of strong job growth. September gains were largest in government, which added 3,300 jobs, with gains concentrated in local government education as the school year started. Professional and business services continued to expand rapidly, adding 1,200 jobs, while wholesale trade added 1,000 jobs. Three industries cut about 1,000 jobs for the month: construction (-1,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-1,200), and financial activities (-900). The August nonfarm payrolls were revised upward by 1,800 jobs to a new reading of a gain of 6,400 jobs. Oregon’s over-the-year job growth rate of 3.5 percent was much faster than the U.S. rate of 1.7 percent. Oregon has added jobs faster than the nation since 2013. Oregon also had one of the fastest over-the-year job growth rates of any state; since February 2015, Oregon has ranked among the top five states with the fastest job growth.
