May 16, 2024 3:40 a.m.
In April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,900 jobs, following a revised gain of 2,600 jobs in March.
An Oregon Employment Department release said April’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance where 1,700 jobs were added. Construction gained 1,500 jobs while manufacturing added 900 jobs. Monthly declines were largest in professional and business services, which lost 1,100 jobs.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said over the past two years, health care and social assistance continued to add jobs at a rapid, consistent pace. Krumenauer said the sector grew by 16,600 jobs or 5.9 percent, since April 2023 following a gain of 13,900 jobs, or 5.2 percent between April 2022 and April 2023. Within the broader sector, social assistance accelerated its expansion in recent months, as it added 4,800 jobs during the past five months. The three component industries within health care each expanded rapidly over the past 12 months. Nursing and residential care facilities added 3,300 jobs, hospitals gained 2,900 jobs, while ambulatory health care services added 2,800 jobs.
OED said government, which added 9,400 jobs, or 3.1 percent since April 2023 was the only other major sector growing quickly in the past 12 months. Each of its three components grew rapidly during that time. Local government added 6,100 jobs or 2.7 percent, while state government gained 2,100 jobs or 4.6 percent and the federal government category added 1,200 jobs or 4.2 percent.
Krumenauer said more than half of the major industries reduced employment over the past 12 months. Manufacturing lost 3,700 jobs or 1.9 percent, and retail trade shuttered 2,300 jobs or 1.1 percent, cutting the most. Professional and business services lost 1,600 jobs, information shuttered 1,100 jobs and construction lost 1,000.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in April, the same as February and March. Since October 2021, Oregon’s unemployment rate has stayed between 3.4 percent and 4.2 percent, averaging 3.9 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in April and 3.8 percent in March.