April 23, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment decreased by 40 jobs in March after gains of 40 in February and 10 in January.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in March, there were relatively large gains of 20 jobs in both the private education and health services, and leisure and hospitality categories. There were relatively large losses of 20 each in mining and logging, and in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said government added 10 jobs in March from gains of 20 in federal government, and 10 each in Indian tribal and noneducation local government. Rooney said there was a loss of 30 in local education.

OED said when comparing March 2025 with March 2024, total nonfarm employment decreased by 100 jobs, or 0.3 percent. Private-sector over-the-year gains of 100 were seen in private education and health services, of 40 in transportation, warehousing and utilities and of 30 in the other services category. There were relatively large losses of 170 in retail trade, of 80 each in mining and logging, and manufacturing, of 70 in professional and business services and of 40 in financial activities.

Rooney said government added 210 jobs due to gains of 100 in noneducation local government, 70 in local education, 30 in Indian tribal and 10 in federal government.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment edged up to 5.7 percent in March compared with a revised 5.6 percent in February. The rate is up from 5.2 percent in March 2024. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in November 2019 at 4.4 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted March rate was 4.6 percent while the U.S. rate was 4.2 percent.