Oregon’s Unemployment Rate, Aug. 17

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in July, an increase from June’s rate of 4.8 percent. The rate has risen from a record low of 4.5 percent in the three months of March, April and May. Oregon’s labor force, which reached a record high of 2,058,000 in July, has grown rapidly in recent months as the number of people employed grew along with growth in the number of unemployed. Oregon’s unemployment rate remained close to the U.S. unemployment rate, which was unchanged at 4.9 percent in July. Oregon’s payroll employment added 3,800 jobs in July after a revised gain of 1,900 in June. Several service-providing industries expanded rapidly, while the two major goods-producing industries contracted. July gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+2,100 jobs); professional and business services (+1,600); leisure and hospitality (+1,200); transportation, warehousing and utilities (+1,100); and other services (+1,000). Meanwhile, the industries with the biggest declines in July were manufacturing (-1,200 jobs) and construction (-1,100). July’s job gains were a bit weaker than the average job gains of the past 12 months. This may have to do with recent months’ weaker trends in manufacturing and construction. Manufacturing lost 800 jobs, or -0.4 percent, over the past year.