7/21/2022 11:45

Oregon nonfarm payroll employment grew by 8,700 in June, following gains averaging 6,200 jobs in the prior seven months, according to the latest report on Wednesday.

Officials said monthly gains in June were largest in the construction category with 2,800 jobs added. The other services category jumped up 1,600 jobs, health care and social assistance added 1,300 jobs, with leisure and hospitality also gaining 1,300 jobs.

Government lost 600 jobs in June and was the only major industry to shed a substantial number of jobs.

As of June, Oregon had regained 94% of jobs that were lost at the onset of the pandemic. The U.S. has regained 98% of those jobs overall.

Oregon’s private sector is close to a full jobs recovery, having regained 98% of pandemic recession losses.

Construction employment rose rapidly over the past 12 months, reaching a record of 118,700 jobs in June, well above the pre-pandemic peak of 112,300 in February 2020.

Since June 2021, construction added 8,700 jobs, or 7.9%, which is a faster growth rate than the private-sector gains of 5.2%.

All construction industries grew rapidly over the past 12 months, with building finishing contractors up 13.2%, building equipment contractors up 11.5%, heavy and civil engineering construction was up by 10.8%, and specialty trade contractors grew by 10.7%.

Leisure and hospitality gained 28,500 jobs, or 16.4%, since June 2021.Despite these gains, leisure and hospitality still accounts for a large share of the jobs Oregon has not recovered since early 2020, with 14,600 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 87% of jobs lost due to the pandemic.

Health care and social assistance added 7,900 jobs through June, following a stagnant period in 2021.

Oregon’s unemployment mirrors the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.6% in June.

The state unemployment rate was essentially unchanged from 3.5%, as revised, in May.