September 25, 2024 3:30 a.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 70 jobs in August after a loss of 110 in July and a gain of 120 in June.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not-seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in August, there were relatively large gains of 30 each in retail trade and professional and business services, and of 20 each in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and private education and health services. There was a large loss of 50 in leisure and hospitality.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the government category gained 80 jobs in August, due to a gain of 80 in local government.

Rooney said when comparing August 2024 with August 2023, total nonfarm employment decreased 110 jobs or 0.3 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 70 jobs were seen in transportation, warehousing and utilities and in the other services category. Retail trade gained 50 jobs while both manufacturing and financial activities gained 20 jobs. There were relatively large losses of 170 in private education and health services, of 140 in professional and business services, and of 70 in construction.

OED said government gained 130 jobs over the year from gains of 100 in local government, 20 in federal government and 10 in state government.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent in August compared with a revised 5.0 percent in July. The rate is up from 4.6 percent in August 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in October 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted August rate was 4.0 percent while the U.S. rate was 4.2 percent.