January 19, 2024 3:20 a.m.

In December, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,900 jobs, following a revised loss of 5,900 jobs in November.

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said December’s gains were largest with 2,300 in health care and social assistance, 1,500 in construction and 700 in retail trade. The largest losses were 700 in financial activities and 600 in wholesale trade.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said health care and social assistance continued to add many jobs in December. Each of its four components grew rapidly in the most recent month and throughout the last year. Krumenauer said social assistance added 1,200 jobs in December, adding 5,600 during 2023. Ambulatory care services added 900 for the month and 5,600 for the year. Similarly, hospitals added 500 jobs in December while nursing and residential care facilities grew by 600.

OED said at 123,100 jobs in December, construction was at a record high. Residential building construction was particularly strong, adding 500 jobs in December and 2,300 in the past year.

The release said retail trade performed close to its normal seasonal pattern during the holiday shopping season in November and December. However, retail’s employment level was a little lower in December 2023 compared with the prior two years. It employed 207,900 in December 2023, which was about 2,300 jobs fewer than in December 2022 and December 2021.

Krumenauer said although leisure and hospitality gained 4,800 jobs, or 2.4 percent in the past 12 months, the industry showed recent weakness by cutting 2,600 jobs between August and December.

Employment in financial activities peaked at 107,100 jobs but has trended downward since then, losing 3,100 jobs over the past five months. The industry now employs about the same number as it did four years ago.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in December and 3.6 percent in November. December was the eighth consecutive month in which Oregon’s unemployment rate was between 3.4 percent and 3.7 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in both November and December.