June 22, 2022 4:50 p.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 4.5 percent in May compared with a revised rate of 4.7 percent in April.

A release from the State of Oregon Employment Department said the county’s record low rate of 4.4 percent was set in October of 2019. The rate is down from 6.1 percent in May 2021.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the county’s payroll employment decreased a seasonally adjusted 210 jobs in May after increases of 30 in April and 260 in March. Rooney said the county has gained back 71 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

OED’s release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in May, there were gains of 80 jobs in leisure and hospitality, 60 in construction, and 20 in transportation, warehousing and utilities. There were significant losses of 30 in business and professional services and 20 in retail trade.

Rooney said government gained 30 jobs from a gain of 40 in the federal government that was countered by a loss of 10 in local government.

When comparing May 2022 with May 2021, total nonfarm employment increased by 90 jobs.

The release said Oregon’s seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment was 3.6 percent in May, matching the U.S. rate.