February 3, 2026 3:50 a.m. 

Oregon’s labor force has grown slightly despite a negative turn in job growth.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said Oregon saw job growth in a handful of sectors and experienced a small increase in its labor force, but overall, the state lost jobs in 2025 as the unemployment rate rose nearly a point to 5.2 percent.

In reviewing the year, State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer noted job gains were concentrated in private health care and social assistance, but rising jobless workers resulted in the highest unemployment rate – outside of a recession or recovery period – in a decade.

Looking ahead, Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis expects a rebound to slow job gains in 2026.

Visit www.qualityinfo.org to view the full Year in Review article from the State of Oregon Employment Department.