July 16, 2026 3:30 a.m.  

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in June. That was unchanged from 5.2 percent in May and also matched the 5.2 rate from one year ago.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in June, which changed little from 4.3 percent the prior month or 4.1 percent the year ago.

A State of Oregon Employment Department update said on a seasonally adjusted basis, Oregon employers cut 600 jobs from non-farm payrolls in June. That follows a revised gain of 2,500 jobs in May. June’s gains were largest with 2,000 jobs added in private health care and social assistance and 1,700 jobs in manufacturing.

State of Oregon Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 8,500 jobs between June 2025 and June 2026. Krumenauer said that’s a loss of 0.4 percent. Both private and public sectors lost jobs over the past year. Private-sector employment fell by 5,400 jobs or 0.3 percent while government employment declined by 3,100 jobs or 1.0 percent.

OED said private health care and social assistance continue to lead to job growth in Oregon. The sector added 14,000 over the past year, a gain of 4.5 percent. Over the past year, growth within the sector was strongest in social assistance at 8.6 percent, and nursing and residential care facilities at 5.3 percent. Ambulatory health care services gained 2.6 percent, and hospitals gained 0.5 percent – also adding jobs, but at a slower rate.

Krumenauer said manufacturing employment continues to decline in Oregon. Manufacturers lost 10,000 jobs over the past year, a decline of 5.6 percent. Within manufacturing, employment in durable goods fell by 5,800 jobs or 4.6 percent while nondurable goods manufacturing lost 4,200 jobs or 7.7 percent.