December 28, 2023 3:20 a.m.
Douglas County payroll employment increased a seasonally adjusted 60 jobs in November after a decrease of 240 in October and an increase of 70 in September.
A State of Oregon Employment Department release said Douglas County has gained back 88 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 November, there were seasonal gains of 60 in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and of 40 in retail trade. Rooney said there were additional gains of 30 in private education and health services, and of 20 in professional and business services. There were seasonal losses of 40 in leisure and hospitality, and of 20 in construction. There were additional losses of 30 in manufacturing and 20 in financial activities.
OED said government gained 10 in November, from gains of 30 in local government and 10 in state government. These gains were countered by a loss of 30 in the federal government category.
Rooney said when comparing November 2023 with November 2022, total nonfarm employment increased 210 jobs or 0.5 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 310 were seen in private education and health services, 80 in financial activities, and of 40 in both information and the other services categories. There were relatively large losses of 120 in manufacturing, of 100 in professional and business services, of 70 in retail trade and of 50 in mining and logging.
The release said government gained 110 jobs over the year from gains of 140 in local government that were countered by losses of 20 in state government and 10 in federal government.
Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent in November compared with a revised 4.5 percent in October. The rate is down from 6.0 percent in November 2022. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in December 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted November rate was 3.6 percent while the U.S. rate was 3.7 percent.