Coos County’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate increased to 5.3 percent from a revised 5.1 percent in October. The rate is below the November 2017 rate (5.5%). Oregon’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.9 percent; the national rate was 3.7 percent. The county’s total payroll employment increased over the month by 140 jobs, primarily reflecting the seasonal uptick in local government education. Additional small gains were reported in retail trade (+30). As expected during the late fall and early winter months, leisure and hospitality shed 120 jobs over the month; construction shed 50 jobs. Coos County added 160 jobs over the year ending in November for a 0.7 percent annual job change. Curry County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.2 percent from a revised 5.8 percent in October. The rate is the same as the November 2017 rate. Curry County’s total nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the month by 170 jobs. No substantive employment gains were reported. Leisure and hospitality shed 100 jobs, which is typical this time of year. Additional small losses were reported in construction (-40). Curry County reported a loss of 80 jobs over the year ending in November, resulting in a negative 0.2 percent over-the-year job loss.
