June 19, 2025 3:40 a.m.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in May and 4.7 percent in April, after rising gradually from 4.1 percent in May 2024.
An Oregon Employment Department release said the state’s unemployment rate was 1.2 percentage points higher than the recent low of 3.6 percent during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in both April and May.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in May, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rate declined by 1,400 jobs following a revised gain of 1,000 in April. Krumenauer said May’s gains were largest in leisure and hospitality, which added 1,300 jobs, transportation, warehousing and utilities which gained 1,200 positions, and health care and social assistance where 900 jobs were added. Declines were largest in construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services where 1,700, 1,200 and 900 jobs were lost, respectively.
OED said leisure and hospitality has grown rapidly this year, adding 1,300 jobs in May and 6,000 jobs so far this year, following slight declines over the past two years. In the past 12 months, three component industries grew rapidly. Amusement, gambling and recreation added 1,700 jobs or 8.6 percent, limited-service restaurants and other eating places added 3,600 jobs, and accommodation added 1,100 jobs or 4.5 percent.
Krumenauer said construction employment dropped by 1,700 jobs in May, to a total of 112,300 jobs, continuing a downward trend. Since reaching a peak of 119,000 jobs in June 2023, construction has shed 6,700 jobs or 5.6 percent.
The release said manufacturing cut 1,200 jobs in May, continuing its decline for the past two years. Since May 2024, manufacturing has lost 6,100 jobs or 3.3 percent. In that time, the component industries cutting the most jobs were: semiconductors and other electronic manufacturing which lost 2,900 jobs or 8.7 percent; transportation equipment manufacturing which lost 500 jobs or 4.5 percent, and fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing which lost 400 jobs or 4.4 percent.