Oregon county and metropolitan unemployment in July

This morning the Oregon Employment Department released unemployment rates for the state's counties and metropolitan areas. Twenty of Oregon's counties and two metros posted jobless rates below the statewide rate (10.6%) in July.

Gilliam County had the lowest unemployment rate (6.4%), while Crook County had the highest (17.7%). Each county held the same rank for jobless rates in July 2009 as well, at 7.3 percent and 18.4 percent respectively.
Most Oregon counties saw over-the-year improvements in their unemployment rate. The largest percentage point declines occurred in Columbia County (-1.8), Lane County (-1.5) and Douglas County (-1.1). The sharpest increases in unemployment rates occurred in Wheeler (+1.8) and Lake (+1.5) counties.

Among metropolitan areas, Corvallis fared best with 7.6 percent unemployment in July. Portland also kept its jobless rate (10.4%) below Oregon's for the month. The Eugene and Salem metros each had 10.7 percent jobless rates. Medford and Bend continue to have relatively high unemployment in July, at 12.8 percent and 14.8 percent.

For additional details on employment levels and unemployment rates in local areas, visit the local area unemployment statistics page on our website. (http://www.qualityinfo.org/olmisj/labforce)

All unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted.