Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent in November, from 6.0 percent in October. This decrease moves Oregon’s rate closer to the national level, as the U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 5.0 percent in both October and November. A year ago, Oregon’s unemployment rate was significantly higher, at 6.8 percent. Oregon’s payroll employment shot upward by 9,600 jobs in November, the largest monthly gain since November 1996, when 9,800 jobs were added. November’s rapid hiring pace put payroll employment 58,200 jobs above November 2014–a gain of 3.3 percent. November marked the 10th consecutive month with over-the-year growth of close to 3.4 percent; Oregon hasn’t seen this rapid pace of hiring since 2006, during the prior economic expansion.
