January 14, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in November and 6.2 percent in September.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said the October unemployment rate is not available since underlying data was not collected due to the federal government shutdown that month. Over the year, Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is up from 5.5 percent in November 2024. The Oregon rate was 5.2 percent while the U.S. rate was 4.6 percent.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment increased by 50 jobs in November after a loss of 200 in October and a gain of 110 in September.

Rooney said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in November, there were gains of 70 in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and of 30 in both retail trade and private education and health services. There were losses of 80 in leisure and hospitality, of 50 in professional and business services, and of 30 in manufacturing.

OED said government decreased by 30 in the month of November from losses of 20 in federal government and of 10 in local government.

Rooney said when comparing November 2025 with November 2024, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 80 jobs or 0.2 percent. There were relatively large private-sector over-the-year gains of 260 in private education and health services and of 110 in professional and business services. There were relatively large losses of 170 in retail trade, of 140 in manufacturing, and of 40 in leisure and hospitality.

The release said government rose by 50 over the year due to gains of 70 in local education, of 20 in Indian tribal, and 10 in state government that were countered by losses of 40 in federal government and of 10 in local governments.