May 28. 2020 3:35 a.m.
Public health measures implemented in March to combat the spread of COVID-19 are having an unprecedented economic impact on Douglas County, leading to a near record high April unemployment rate.
Regional Economist Brian Rooney of the Oregon Employment Department said April provides the first full month of data measuring the impact on workers and businesses.
Rooney said April seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are not yet available for the county, due to processing delays caused by the large increases in unemployment. He said the data now available is the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates.
Rooney said the county’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from a record low in March of 5.0 percent to a near record rate of 16.7 percent for the month. The record April rate was 17.2 percent in 2009. The Oregon not seasonally adjusted rate for April was 14.8 percent while the U.S. rate was 14.4 percent.
Payroll employers in Douglas County shed 4,310 jobs in April, for an 11.2 percent decline. That compares with a loss of 13 percent statewide. The largest private sector losses in Douglas County were in leisure and hospitality which lost 1,170 jobs, government which lost 890 jobs and the other services category where 550 jobs were lost. No sectors gained jobs.  Other sectors with large losses included professional and business services which lost 290 jobs, retail trade where 260 jobs were lost and manufacturing which lost 230 jobs.
Brian Rooney will go in depth regarding the unemployment rate, on Inside Douglas County, Friday at 12:30 on News Radio 1240 KQEN.