April 1, 2022 10:30 a.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent in February compared with a revised 4.9 percent in January.

A release from the State of Oregon Employment said the rate is down from 6.4 percent in February of 2021.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the county’s payroll employment dropped a seasonally adjusted 40 jobs in February after a loss of 200 in January and a gain of 200 in December. Rooney said the county has gained back 64 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

In the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in February, there were gains of 30 jobs in leisure and hospitality, and 20 each in construction and the private education and health services category. There were seasonal losses of 60 in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and 50 in retail trade. There were additional losses of 50 in professional and business services, and 20 in manufacturing.

Rooney said government gained 40 jobs from gains in local education of 30 and noneducation local government of 10.

When comparing February 2022 with February 2021, total nonfarm employment is down 140 jobs. Large-over-the-year gains of 210 were seen in leisure and hospitality, 120 in the “other services” category and 30 in wholesale trade. There were losses in professional and business services of 280, transportation, warehousing and utilities of 60, and mining and logging with 50.

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4 percent in January while the national rate was 3.8 percent.