Oregon unemployment numbers continue to climb and hit recent high

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2 days ago

Oregon's unemployment rate continued to climb in July and was again higher than the national average, according to an Aug. 13 press release from the Oregon Employment Department.
The overall unemployment rate hit 5.0% in July. It was 4.2% in July 2024 and has continued to climb this year from 4.4% in January. The rate is the highest it has been in four years, when the state was first recovering from COVID-19-era furloughs and layoffs.
In an Aug. 14 media briefing, Gail Krumenauer, the state employment economist, said the rate was the highest it has been since the beginning of 2016, excluding the pandemic period.
"The big picture has many of the similar trends that we've been talking about, but overall Oregon's employment situation is weaker than originally reported," Krumenauer said. "Unemployment continues to rise in Oregon."
The national unemployment rate was 4.2% in July.
The state lost 2,700 jobs in July, after losing 8,600 in June. Job losses in July were concentrated in financial activities, professional and business services, and health care and social assistance.
Among mass cuts in the state was the loss of nearly 2,400 workers at Intel in July. Manufacturing still has the steepest declines, according to Krumenauer, with the loss of 9,400 jobs in the past year, or a 5% drop.
Yearly job gains were concentrated in private health care and social assistance. Gains in July were largest in construction and transportation, warehousing and utilities.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at [e-mail] on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon unemployment numbers continue to climb and hit recent high
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