Oregon Unemployment Rate Drops to 7.3 Percent, Dec. 18

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent in November from 7.6 percent, as revised, in October. November marked Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since September 2008, when the rate was 7.2 percent. Rapid declines in Oregon’s unemployment rate over the past three months have put Oregon’s rate closer to the national rate. The U.S. unemployment rate, which dropped to 7.0 percent in November, has also declined recently, but at a slightly slower pace.  Oregon’s unemployment rate is declining primarily because the number of unemployed is dropping. In November, there were 130,896 Oregonians unemployed compared with 156,298 a year earlier. This drop of 25,402 individuals has been good news for many families in the state and for many sectors of Oregon’s economy.