January 29, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 60 jobs in December, after a loss of 10 in November and a gain of 60 in October.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in December there were gains of 60 jobs in private education and health services, of 30 jobs in transportation, warehousing and utilities and of 20 in retail trade. There were losses of 30 in manufacturing and of 20 in professional and business services.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said government dropped 60 jobs in December, due to losses in federal and state government.

Rooney said when comparing December 2024 with December 2023, total nonfarm employment increased by 190 jobs or 0.5 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 130 were seen in manufacturing, 50 in the other services category, 40 in financial activities and 30 in transportation, warehousing and utilities. There were relatively large losses of 120 in retail trade, 90 in professional and business services, and 70 in leisure and hospitality.

OED said government dropped 60 jobs over the year from losses of 40 in federal government and 20 in local government.

Rooney said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.1 percent in December, compared with a revised 5.0 percent in November. The rate is up from 4.8 percent in December 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in November 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted December rate was 4.1 percent and the U.S. rate was 4.1 percent.