August 20, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

In July, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,100 jobs, following a revised gain of 1,300 jobs in June.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said July’s losses were largest in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and government, which shed 1,800 jobs, 900 jobs and 700 jobs respectively. Gains were largest in retail trade, which went up by 500.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in the past 12 months professional and business services have been on a slight downward trend, declining by 2,500 jobs or 1.0 percent. Krumenauer said most of the decline was in management of companies and enterprises, which cut 2,200 jobs or 4.6 percent in that time. The other two component industries saw little change during that period: Professional and technical services gained 200 jobs or 0.2 percent, and administrative and waste services lost 500 jobs or 0.5 percent.

OED said leisure and hospitality employed 203,800 in July, which was 3,500 jobs below its average of 207,300 from 2023 through 2025. It has cut 3,800 jobs since January, following a very flat trend during the prior three years. Despite recent weakness, its component industry, arts, entertainment and recreation added 200 jobs in July to reach a record high of 31,300.

Oregon’s government sector has lost 4,500 jobs or 1.4 percent, since 2025. All components have cut jobs since July 2025. Federal government dropped 1,600 jobs or 5.7 percent, state government lost 200 jobs or 0.4 percent, and local government counts declined by 2,700 jobs or 1.1 percent.

Krumenauer said retail trade added 500 jobs in July, but that follows a consistent long-term trend of job declines during the past four years. It employed 198,000 in July, which was a drop of 12,700 jobs or 6.0 percent since July 2022.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in July. It has been 5.2 percent each month since January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in June and 4.1 percent in July.