June 25, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment increased by 50 jobs in April after a loss of 160 in April and a gain of 100 in March.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in May, there were relatively large seasonal gains of 90 in leisure and hospitality and 40 in construction. There were additional gains of 60 in private education and health services, 50 in professional and business services and 20 in retail trade.

Regional Economist Bryan Rooney said the government added 80 jobs in May from gains of 50 in local education, 20 in non-educational local government, and 10 in federal government.

Rooney said when comparing May 2025 with May 2024, total nonfarm employment decreased by 400 jobs, or 1.0 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 280 were seen in private education and health services and of 20 in the other services category. There were relatively large losses of 200 in retail trade, 160 in both manufacturing and leisure and hospitality, and 130 in professional and business services.

OED said government added 150 jobs over the year in May due to gains of 100 in local education and 50 in federal government.

The release said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is essentially unchanged in May at 5.7 percent compared with a revised 5.6 percent in April. The rate is up significantly from 5.2 percent in May 2024. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in November 2019 at 4.4 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted May rate was 4.8 percent, and the U.S. rate was 4.2 percent.