July 27, 2022 4:00 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 4.4 percent in June, compared with a revised 4.5 percent in May.

A release from the State of Oregon Employment Department said June’s rate matches the record low set in October 2019. The rate is down from 6.0 percent in June of 2021.

Douglas County payroll employment decreased a seasonally adjusted 120 jobs in June after increases of 200 in May and 30 jobs in April. OED said the county has gained back 68 percent of the jobs lost in March and April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

The release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in June, there were gains in leisure and hospitality of 140, 50 in construction, and 30 in both retail trade and education and health services. There were significant losses in professional and business services of 30, and 20 each in manufacturing, and in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Government held steady due to gains of 30 in state government and 10 in federal government. This was countered by a loss of 40 in local government.

OED said when comparing June 2022 with June 2021, total nonfarm employment increased by 10. Large over-the-year gains were seen in leisure and hospitality of 150, 110 in education and health services, 100 in wholesale trade, and 80 in financial activities. There were losses in professional and business services of 220, along with 80 in construction and 60 in manufacturing.

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted June rate of unemployment was 3.6 percent which tied with the national rate.