October 18, 2023 10:30 a.m.
In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 8,100 jobs, following a revised decline of 700 jobs in August.
A release from the Oregon Employment Department said September’s over-the-month job gains were largest in construction with an increase of 3,200 jobs, in professional and business services with a gain of 2,200 jobs and in the leisure and hospitality category where 900 jobs were added. Most of the other major industries were relatively flat over the month, with none cutting more than 200 jobs.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said construction employment surged to another record high in September, gaining 3,200 jobs. At 119,900 jobs in September, construction is up 2,300 jobs or 2.0 percent, since September 2022. Krumenauer said most of the gains in the past 12 months were in specialty trade contractors, which added 4,000 jobs. Meanwhile, construction of buildings has the same employment level as the prior year.
OED said professional and business services grew at a moderate pace over the past year, adding 3,900 jobs or 1.5 percent. This gain was led by management of companies and enterprises, which added 2,400 jobs or 4.8 percent. Professional and technical services grew moderately, adding 1,600 jobs or 1.4 percent. But the third component industry, administrative and waste services, was nearly flat over that period, cutting 100 jobs, or 0.1 percent. Within that industry, employment services was particularly weak, shedding 2,000 jobs or 4.5 percent over the past 12 months.
Krumenauer said leisure and hospitality expanded at a consistent and rapid pace over the past 24 months. During that time, it was up 23,900 jobs, or 12.8 percent. Despite these gains, at 210,800 jobs in September, it is still 5,700 jobs below its pre-recession peak reached in February 2020.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in September and 3.4 percent in August. September was the fourth consecutive month in which Oregon’s unemployment rate was between 3.4 percent and 3.5 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in both August and September.