October 15, 2026 3:20 a.m.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0 percent in September and 5.1 percent in August.
A State of Oregon Employment Department release said it has held a tight range between 5.0 percent and 5.3 percent for the past 19 months, since March 2025 when it was 5.0 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in September and 4.1 percent in August.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,800 jobs, following a revised gain of 2,600 jobs in August. Krumenauer said September’s gains were largest in construction, health care and social assistance, and leisure and hospitality, which gained 2,000 jobs, 1,700 jobs and 1,300 jobs respectively. Losses were largest in retail trade, which lost 1,500 jobs.
OED said in the past 12 months, payroll employment rose by 2,600 jobs, or 0.1%. Health care and social assistance continued its rapid growth during the past four years by adding 12,100 jobs, or 3.8%, in the past 12 months. The other services category which added 1,600 jobs or 2.4 percent and private education which gained 1,300 jobs or 3.6 percent were the other major industries that added the most jobs since September 2025. Manufacturing cut the most jobs in that time with a loss of 4,300 jobs or 2.4 percent. That was followed by government which lost 4,000 jobs or 1.3 percent.
Krumenauer said construction employment drifted upward during April through August, then jumped higher by 2,000 jobs in September. In the past 12 months, each of the three component industries expanded: construction of buildings added 900 jobs, specialty trade contractors gained 500 jobs, and the heavy and civil engineering construction category added 100 jobs.
Several industries rebounded over the most recent two months. Government added 1,300 jobs since July, following losses in prior months. Nonetheless, it has cut 4,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Manufacturing has added 1,700 jobs since July, partially reversing steady declines during the past three years. Leisure and hospitality’s September gain reversed losses in June and July.