October 19, 2022 10:50 a.m. 

In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment shed 600 jobs in September.

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said although a small decline, this was the first drop in jobs following 12 consecutive months of gains.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said losses in September were largest in the other services, government and financial activities categories. They shed 1,500, 1,100 and 700 jobs respectively. Those losses were balanced by gains in professional and business services of 1,400 jobs, health care and social assistance of 1,000 jobs, manufacturing of 800 jobs and leisure and hospitality of 600 jobs.

Oregon’s private sector added 500 jobs in September, reaching an all-time high of 1,767,100. This was 4,400 jobs, or .3 percent above its pre-recession peak in February 2020.

The release said the “other services” category – one of the smallest of the major industries, employing 61,200 in September – has pulled down overall jobs in recent months. It cut 2,700 jobs between July and September, following a spike upward of 4,200 jobs between April and July. In September, a diverse grouping of establishments cut jobs including civic and social organizations, religious organizations and nail salons.

Healthcare and social assistance rebounded substantially this year following a lackluster performance in 2021. It added 10,800 jobs between January and September 2022. Each of its four component industries added jobs during that time with two growing at the fastest rate and adding the most jobs: Ambulatory health care services added 4,500 jobs while social assistance gained 3,100 jobs.

The release said accommodation and food services continued to recover from the Pandemic Recession, adding 2,400 jobs in September and gaining 16,100 jobs over the past 12 months. Despite this recent growth, it is still 6,500 below its pre-pandemic high reached in February 2020.

OED said Oregon’s unemployment rate edged up to 3.8 percent in September from 3.7 percent in August. That’s above the recent low of 3.5 percent reached in May, June and July. The U.S. unemployment rate declined from 3.7 percent in August to 3.5 percent in September. Despite slight differences in their movements in recent months, both the U.S. unemployment rate and Oregon’s unemployment rate have each averaged 3.6 percent since March.