November 22, 2023 3:40 a.m.

Douglas County payroll employment dropped a seasonally adjusted 240 jobs in October after increases of 70 in September and 200 in August.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said the county has gained back 86 percent of the jobs lost in March and April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in October, there was a gain of 40 jobs in the general merchandise retailer’s category. Rooney said there were seasonal losses of 140 in leisure and hospitality and of 40 in construction. There were additional losses of 100 in professional and business services, 60 in manufacturing and 50 in private education and health services.

OED said government gained 170 jobs in October from gains of 190 in local education at the start of the school year, and of 20 in Indian tribal. These gains were countered by a loss of 40 in the federal government category.

Rooney said when comparing October 2023 with October 2022, total nonfarm employment increased 110 jobs, or 0.2 percent. Private-sector over-the-year gains of 320 were seen in private education and health services, of 60 in financial activities, and of 40 in both information and other services. There were relatively large losses in professional and business services of 190, of 110 in manufacturing and in retail trade, and of 80 in mining and logging.

Government gained 180 jobs over the year from gains of 170 in local government, and 40 in federal government that were countered by a loss of 30 in state government.

OED said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent in October compared with a revised 4.5 percent in September. The rate is down from 6.0 percent in October 2022. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in November 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted October rate was 3.6 percent while the U.S. rate was 3.9 percent.