April 17, 2025 3:30 a.m.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in March and 4.5 percent in February, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1 percent in March 2024.
A State of Oregon Employment Department release said Oregon’s 4.6 percent unemployment rate was the highest since August 2021, when the rate was 4.7 percent, and slightly higher than during the three years prior to the COVID recession that started in 2020. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in March and 4.1 percent in February.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in March, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 7,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 1,600 jobs in February. Krumenauer said March’s gains were the largest in health care and social assistance, which rose by 4,600 jobs. Professional and business services went up by 1,000 jobs, other services rose by 800 jobs while wholesale trade gained 700 jobs. None of the other major industries had a job change of more than 400 jobs.
OED said the return of workers who were on strike at a major health care provider contributed to the one-month gain of 4,600 jobs in health care and social assistance during March. This industry has been leading the private-sector job growth in Oregon over the past few years. It added 18,400 jobs, or 6.2 percent, in the 12 months through March, continuing a three-year streak of rapid growth.
Krumenauer said professional and business services added jobs in each of the first three months of the year, with gains totaling 4,500 jobs in that time. This reversed a generally declining trend in the industry during the prior two years when it shed 5,400 jobs during the 24 months ending in December 2024.
The release said other services – an industry which includes religious organizations, membership associations, personal services, laundry services, and repair and maintenance services – has expanded steadily for more than four years. It employed 69,300 in March and is now well above its pre-pandemic high of 65,700 jobs in January 2020.