September 17, 2026 3:50 a.m. 

Oregon’s unemployment rate was little change at 5.1 percent in August and 5.2 percent in July. It has been within a tight range between 5.0 percent and 5.3 percent for the past 18 months, since March 2025 when it was 5.0 percent. The U.S. unemployment was 4.1 percent in both July and August.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in August, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 800 jobs, following a revised loss of 1,800 jobs in July. August’s losses were largest in professional and business services, which dropped by 1,100 jobs. Gains were largest in construction and retail trade, which added 700 jobs and 500 jobs respectively.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in the past 12 months, payroll employment dropped by 10,900 jobs or 0.5 percent. Krumenauer said health care and social assistance continued its rapid growth of the past four years by adding 10,200 jobs or 3.2 percent. In the past 12 months, private education gained 800 jobs or 2.2 percent while the other services category added 1,300 jobs or 2.0 percent. Those were the only other major industries that added jobs since August 2025. Manufacturing cut 6,800 jobs or 3.8 percent, the largest loss of jobs in that time. Most of the other major industries cut jobs by less than 2 percent.

OED said there were signs of stabilization over the past five months, as total nonfarm payroll employment inched upwards by 1,800 jobs or 0.1 percent. The gains since March were largest in health care and social assistance, and construction, which added 3,800 jobs and 2,200 jobs respectively. Other large gains included other services which went up by 1,700 jobs, and both retail trade and private education, which each gained 1,400 jobs. These gains were partially offset by losses in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and government, which lost 3,100 jobs, 2,600 jobs and 2,000 jobs respectively.