December 21, 2023 3:40 a.m.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 7,300 jobs, following a revised loss of 4,300 jobs in October.

An Oregon Employment Department release said November’s losses were largest in professional and business services which saw a drop of 2,900 jobs. Other losses include 1,700 in construction, 1,500 in leisure and hospitality, 1,300 in financial activities and 1,000 in information. The only industry gaining substantially in November was health care and social assistance, which added 2,400 jobs.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said professional and business services expanded slower than overall employment over the past 12 months, adding 3,000 jobs or 1.1 percent, compared with growth of 39,600 jobs, or 2 percent, for total nonfarm employment. Krumenauer said while most of the industry grew over this period, employment services trended downward, cutting 3,500 jobs, or 7.7 percent since November 2022.

OED said construction rose rapidly during most of the past two years. November’s drop of 1,700 jobs was proceeded by big gains totaling 5,700 jobs during January through October.

The release said although leisure and hospitality gained 6,800 jobs, or 3.4 percent in the past 12 months, the industry showed some recent weakness by cutting 2,900 jobs between August and November.

Krumenauer said government added 500 jobs in November and was up 10,200 jobs or 3.4 percent in the past 12 months. It has consistently expanded over the past three years. In November, local government reached a record high of 234,200 jobs, adding 6,900 jobs in the past 12 months.

OED said health care and social assistance grew the fastest of the major industries over the past 12 months, adding 17,900 jobs or 6.5 percent. Gains during that time were led by social assistance and nursing and residential care facilities, which each grew by close to 8.5 percent.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in both October and November. November was the seventh consecutive month in which Oregon’s unemployment rate was between 3.4 percent and 3.7 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3,9 percent in October and 3.7 percent in November.