March 28, 2022 3:10 a.m.

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 4 percent in February, from 4.2 percent, as revised, in January.

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said the state’s unemployment rate dropped rapidly from its peak in April 2020 through late 2021, and is now at its lowest level since prior to the pandemic-induced recession in March 2020, when it was 3.5 percent.

OED said in February, 59,000 Oregonians had been unemployed for less than six months, which was near the lowest number in two decades. Meanwhile, 24,000 Oregonians had been unemployed for more than six months, as the number of long-term unemployed decreased rapidly since hitting a recent peak of 65,000 in April 2021.

The release said in February, Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 12,300 jobs, following a revised gain of 5,100 jobs in January. This was the largest monthly gain since July 2021 when 34,800 jobs were added.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in February and 4 percent in January.