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Oregon Workforce and Economic Information
October 2019 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties
Benton County had Oregon’s lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in October 2019. Other counties with some of the lowest unemployment rates in October included Hood River (3.4%), Washington (3.4%), and Multnomah (3.5%). These four counties had unemployment rates below the national rate of 3.6 percent. Ten of Oregon’s counties had unemployment rates at or below the statewide
Read MoreOregon’s Unemployment Rate Has Stayed Near 4 Percent for Three Years
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in September and October. The rate has been between 4.0 percent and 4.4 percent for an unprecedented 36 consecutive months dating back to November 2016. The U.S. unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October.
Other measures of Oregon’s labor force also indicated a tight labor market in recent months. Fewer
Read MoreEmployment Among Oregon’s Veteran’s
In 2018, the unemployment rate for veterans in Oregon was 4.8 percent, according to the Current Population Survey. Overall, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in 2018. Across the U.S., veterans had a lower unemployment rate of 3.5 percent.
About 296,000 veterans lived in Oregon in 2018. More than half of veterans (162,000) were not in the labor force. This figure could be related to
Read MoreOregon Employment Forecast: Solid Fundamentals, More Uncertainty
The U.S. economic expansion turned 10 years old this summer, making it the longest expansion in recorded history. Locally, Oregon continues to add jobs and our unemployment rate remains at or near record lows. In addition, incomes are rising and initial claims for unemployment insurance (a measure of layoffs) are down. All told, the state’s economy continues to hit the sweet spot. How long will
Read MoreMost Oregon Counties Saw Real Wage Growth from 2008 to 2018
Most of Oregon’s counties had an increase in inflation-adjusted average wages from 2008 to 2018. Overall, the average wage for the entire state increased by $6,026 over those 10 years after adjusting for inflation.
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Read MoreHalloween Fun Facts
Happy Halloween! We’re treating you with some fun facts related to Halloween festivities.
721,290
The 2018 population of Oregonians under age 15 potentially in search of candy asking "trick or treat?"
1,639,970
The number of households statewide (2018) that children might pass by and/or visit while trick-or-treating
59
The number of confectionery and nut stores in Oregon that sold candy and
The Mental Health Industry – Open Hearted Folks Helping Minds in Need
In recent years, society has been learning that mental health can be just as important as physical health. Oregon has joined in this trend, evidenced by the strong growth in mental health care workers around the state. Hospitals, clinics, and residential facilities employ thousands of trained mental health workers to help people get better. These jobs often pay better than average wages, but they
Read MoreSeptember 2019 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties
Benton County had Oregon’s lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in September 2019. Other counties with some of the lowest unemployment rates in September included Hood River (3.4%), Washington (3.4%), and Multnomah (3.6%). Three counties had unemployment rates at or below the national rate of 3.5 percent. Nine of Oregon’s counties had unemployment rates below the statewide
Read MoreDifferences in Workers’ Employment, Education and Industry by Ethnicity
According to the 2013-2017 five-year ACS estimates (the most current available), Oregon had roughly 2.1 million people between the ages of 25 and 64. Of them, 236,000 were of Hispanic or Latino origin, while the state’s non-Hispanic population in the same prime working age range totaled 1.9 million. The non-Hispanic population includes Oregonians of any race (African-American, Asian, Native
Read MoreOregon’s Job Growth Cools in September
In September, Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment added 200 jobs, following a loss of 900 jobs in August. Job gains have cooled recently, averaging only 100 per month over the past five months. This flat economic trend is in contrast to gains that averaged 3,000 jobs per month in all of calendar year 2018, and 4,100 jobs per month during the rapid and consistent growth Oregon experienced
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