April 2, 2025 3:40 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment increased by 20 jobs in February after gains of 10 in January and 130 in December.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in February, there were relatively large gains of 70 jobs in leisure and hospitality and 40 jobs in construction. There was a relatively large loss of 30 jobs in retail trade.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said government added 80 jobs in February, due to gains of 70 jobs in local education and 20 jobs in noneducation local government. Rooney said these gains were countered by a loss of 10 in the federal government category.

OED said when comparing February 2025 with February 2024, total nonfarm employment decreased by 70 jobs or 0.2 percent. Private-sector over-the-year gains of 50 jobs were seen in private education and health services. That was followed by gains of 40 each in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and leisure and hospitality. There were relatively large losses of 170 in retail trade, of 110 in professional and business services, and of 60 in mining and logging.

Rooney said government added 210 jobs over-the-year from gains of 90 in noneducation local government, 80 in local education, 30 in Indian tribal, and 10 in the federal government category.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 5.4 percent in February compared with a revised 5.2 percent in January. The rate is up from 5.1 percent in February 2024. The Oregon seasonally adjusted February rate was 4.5 percent while the U.S. rate is 4.1 percent.