December 14, 2022 10:50 a.m. 

Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in November, up from 4.1 percent in October.

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said the unemployment rate increased 0.9 percentage points over the past four months from its recent low of 3.5 percent in May, June and July. OED said the last time the state’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent or more was in October 2021, when the rate was 4.4 percent. In contrast the U.S. unemployment rate has remained below 4 percent, as it was in both October and November of 2022.

Regional Economist Gail Krumenauer said in Oregon, nonfarm employment rose by 8,500 jobs in November, following a gain of 5,500 jobs in October. Krumenauer said the gains in November were the largest in the government category which went up by 2,900 jobs. Healthcare and social assistance gained 1,400 jobs, wholesale trade rose by 1,100 jobs and leisure and hospitality went up by 1,000 jobs. None of the major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in November.

OED said all major sectors of government grew. Federal government added 900 jobs in November, with several firms adding jobs when they normally would be shedding seasonal jobs heading into the winter slow period. State government added 300 jobs, continuing its slow growth this year. Local government added 1,700 jobs, but remained 2,400 jobs below November 2019, prior to the pandemic recession.

Oregon’s private sector added 5,600 jobs in November, reaching another all-time high of 1,688,400. This was 16,700 jobs, or 1.0 percent above the pre-recession peak in February 2020.

Health care and social assistance continued its steady and rapid advances this year, adding 1,400 jobs in November. That is close to its average gain of 1,200 jobs per month this year. Social assistance grew the most, adding 5,100 jobs in the past 12 months. Ambulatory health care services added 4,500 jobs while nursing and residential care added 2,100 jobs. Both of those categories have expanded rapidly since November of 2021.

OED said leisure and hospitality is still substantially below its pre-pandemic peak. However, its revised gain of 2,000 jobs in October, coupled with its gain of 1,000 in November, put the industry back on its recent upward trajectory. Over the past 12 months, it added 15,700 jobs, accounting for nearly a quarter of Oregon’s private-sector job gains during that time.