May 17, 2023 10:40 a.m.
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.0 percent in April, down from 4.4 percent in March.
A release from the Oregon Employment Department said for the past 21 months since August 2021, Oregon’s unemployment rate has remained relatively steady and near historic lows. The unemployment rate averaged 4.2 percent in that time, while ranging between 3.5 percent and 4.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in April and 3.5 percent in March.
State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said in April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1,600 jobs, following a revised gain of 1,300 jobs in March. In April, gains were largest in the “other services” category, which grew by 1,700 jobs, and health care and social assistance, which rose by 900 jobs. Declines were largest in construction and manufacturing, which by 1,000 and 600 jobs respectively. Since April 2022, Oregon has added 38,400 nonfarm payroll jobs, which reflects a gain of 2.0 percent.
OED said other services is an industry made up of a variety of service establishments, such as repair, maintenance, laundry, religious organizations, and social advocacy organizations. Employment in this broad industry rose to 66,000 in April, reaching a record high, and for the first time surpassing its pandemic peak of 65,500 in February 2020. Other services employment has recovered at a fairly steady pace over the past two and a half years.
Krumenauer said health care and social assistance continued its recent rapid expansion. It added 11,500 jobs, or 4.3 percent during the past twelve months, which was the most jobs added of the major industries in that time. Social assistance, at 73,400 jobs in April, expanded rapidly in recent months, adding 7,300 jobs since April 2022. Nursing and residential care facilities also grew rapidly, adding 2,800 jobs in that time.
OED said both during goods manufacturing and nondurable goods manufacturing have cut slightly more than 1,000 jobs each in the first four months of the year. Durable goods industries declining in that time include computer and electronic products, wood products, fabricated metal products and transportation equipment. Within nondurable goods, food manufacturing has cut jobs this year, and is down 1,000 jobs since April 2022.