COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP SLIGHTLY

October 22, 2020 10:00 a.m.

The county unemployment rate has gone up slightly in the past month.

Data from the State of Oregon Employment Department said the seasonally adjusted rate for September is 7.9 percent, an increase from the 7.7 percent rate of unemployment measured in August.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the county’s payroll employers added a seasonally adjusted 160 jobs in September after dropping 80 in July, but then adding 50 in August. Rooney said with the additional jobs added last month, the county has gained back 38 percent of the jobs lost in March and April, due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The largest not seasonally adjusted private-sector gains in the county were in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and in private education and health care. Both categories gained 20 jobs. Leisure and hospitality lost 90 jobs while both the manufacturing and professional and business services categories, lost 60.

Government gained 510 jobs, largely from a seasonal increase of 570 in local education, and an additional gain of 30 in the tribal category. Those gains were countered by losses in the federal government of 50, state government of 20 and noneducation local government of 20 as well.

The Oregon seasonally adjusted September rate of unemployment was 8.0 percent. The U.S. rate was 7.9 percent.