August 21, 2024 3:50 p.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment dropped 150 jobs in July after a gain of 120 in June and a gain of 10 in May.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in July, there were gains of 50 in construction and 40 in retail trade.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said government dropped 620 jobs in July from a seasonal loss of 650 jobs in local education due to the summer break, and a loss of 10 in noneducation local government. Rooney said these losses were countered by gains of 30 in federal government and 10 in state government.

OED said when comparing July 2024 with July 2023, total nonfarm employment decreased 150 jobs or 0.4 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 60 were seen in transportation, warehousing and utilities. Government gained 150 jobs over the year from gains of 120 in local government and 30 in federal government.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent in July compared with a revised 5.0 percent in June. The rate is up from 4.5 percent in July 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in October 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted July rate was 4.1 percent, and the U.S. rate was 4.3 percent.