August 18, 2020 10:35 a.m.

Job recovery in the state of Oregon slowed in July.

Information from the Oregon Employment Department said total nonfarm employment rose by 20,500 jobs last month, following a gain of 57,000 jobs in June. Over the past three months, employers added back 38 percent of the jobs that were cut in March and April.

The release said over the month job gains were largest in leisure and hospitality, which added 7,300 jobs. Government added 5,700 jobs while retail trade gained 3,600. Health care and social assistance added 3,100 positions. Professional and business services added 1,900 jobs. Meanwhile, three of the major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in July. Construction lost 1,900 jobs, manufacturing lost 1,500 positions and the “information” category saw a lost of 1,200 jobs.

Data shows that over the past five months, the major industries were impacted differently by the pandemic. Leisure and hospitality suffered by far the largest job loss during March and April, shedding 118,700 jobs during the outset of the pandemic-induced drop in business. Then, between April and July, the industry regained half of the loss, as it rebounded by 58,900 jobs over the past three months. Three industries regained more than half of their lost jobs. Health care and social assistance regained two-thirds of its jobs lost, with a rebound over 18,700 jobs over the past three months. Two industries regained nearly two-thirds of their lost jobs. The “other services” category saw 9,300 jobs, or 63 percent return, while retail trade got back 62 percent of its lost jobs, for a gain of 13,900.

Several industries have regained less than a third of the jobs lost during March and April. That includes construction, financial activities, private education, professional and business services, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities.

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 10.4 percent in July from 11.6 percent, as revised in June. In July, Oregon’s unemployment rate was very close to the U.S. employment rate which fell to 10.2 percent, down from 11.1 percent in June.