In March, Oregon’s unemployment rate fell below the U.S. rate for the first time since 1996, dropping to 5.4 percent, from 5.8 percent in February. The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in March. While the difference between the Oregon and the U.S. March unemployment rates was not statistically significant, the fact that Oregon’s rate is below the nation’s shows how much the state’s economy has improved over the last year. Reflecting an improving economy, Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped substantially over the past 12 months; in March 2014, Oregon’s rate was 7.1 percent.
