January 24, 2025 3:30 a.m.
In December, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 3,700 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,700 jobs in November.
A State of Oregon Employment Department release said December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance, and government, which added 1,900 jobs and 700 jobs respectively. Declines were largest with 1,900 in leisure and hospitality, 1,800 in manufacturing, 1,000 in financial activities and 900 in retail trade.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said health care and social assistance continued its rapid, consistent pace of hiring, adding 18,100 jobs, or 6.2 percent in the past 12 months. Krumenauer said within this industry, social assistance added the most jobs, gaining 9,200 jobs or 12.2. percent since December 2023. The three health care industries added between 3,300 and 4,400 jobs during that time.
OED said December’s growth in government also capped off a year of strong performance. Its 7,000-job gain, which was 2.3 percent and was the second fastest growth over the year.
The release said leisure and hospitality cut 3,200 jobs in the past two months. It employed 204,000 in December, which was 3,000 below its average during January 2023 through October 2024.
Krumenauer said cutbacks of 1,500 jobs within the semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing contributed most of December employment reductions in manufacturing. Over the year, manufacturing dropped 2,500 jobs or 1.3 percent. Several durable goods manufacturing industries have shed jobs in the past 12 months: Wood product manufacturing lost 500 jobs or 2.2 percent, machine manufacturing lost 300 jobs or 2.2 percent and transportation equipment manufacturing lost 600 jobs or 5.3 percent.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in December and 4.0 percent as revised, in November. The rate has consistently remained between 4.0 percent and 4.2 percent since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in December and 4.2 in November.