South Coast Unemployment, Nov. 21

Coos County’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.1 percent from a revised 4.9 percent in September. The rate is below the October 2017 rate (5.5%). Oregon’s seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate was 3.8 percent; the national rate was 3.7 percent. The county’s total payroll employment decreased over the month by 30 jobs, reflecting seasonal shifts in leisure and hospitality (-60), retail trade (-30), and professional and business services (-30). Additional small losses were spread across other sectors. Coos County added 120 jobs over the year ending in October for a 0.5 percent annual job change.  Curry County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.8 percent from a revised 5.6 percent in September. The rate is below the October 2017 rate of 6.2 percent. Curry County’s total nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the month by 190 jobs. Curry County reported no net employment change over the year ending in October.