November 26, 2021  10:40 a.m.

Douglas County payroll employment decreased a seasonally adjusted 140 jobs in October after a loss of 30 in September and a loss of 320 in August.

A release from the State of Oregon Employment Department said the county has gained back 67 percent of the jobs lost in March and April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

In the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in October, there was a gain in other services of 20 jobs. Professional and business services and the leisure and hospitality categories each lost 110 jobs, while manufacturing lost 50.

OED said government gained 140 jobs from a seasonal gain of 210 in local government education that was countered by losses of 40 in federal government, 20 in noneducation local government and 10 in state government.

When comparing October 2021 with October 2020, total nonfarm employment is down 90 jobs or .2 percent. Large over-the-year gains were seen in leisure and hospitality which added 150 jobs, manufacturing where 90 jobs were added and construction which gained 80 jobs. There were losses in professional and business services of 210, financial activities fell by 80 jobs and private education and health services lost 50 jobs.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent in October, compared with a revised 5.7 percent in September. The rate is down from 6.5 percent in October 2020. The Oregon seasonally adjusted rate was 4.4 percent while the U.S. rate was 4.6 percent.