March 11, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Douglas County’s unemployment rate decreased in January.

New data from the State of Oregon Employment Department said the seasonally adjusted rate of joblessness dropped from a revised 6.4 percent in December to 6.1 percent in January. Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the Douglas County rate has been tracking closely with the statewide and national rates. Rooney said the Oregon seasonally adjusted January rate was 6.2 percent. The U.S. rate was 6.3 percent in January.

Douglas County’s payroll employers dropped a seasonally adjusted 80 jobs in January. Douglas County has gained back 53 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rooney said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in January, there was a loss of 180 jobs in leisure and hospitality. Construction and the other services category both lost 40 jobs. There were relativity large gains in retail trade and professional and business services, with each category seeing an increase of 40 jobs. Education and health services added 20 jobs.

The release said government lost 120 jobs from losses in local education, noneducation local government and Indian tribal, countered by a small gain in state government.

Rooney said when comparing January 2021 with January 2020, total nonfarm employment is down 1,990 jobs or 5.1 percent. All major industry sectors are down over the year except retail trade which gained 100 jobs and wholesale trade, where 70 jobs were added.