September (Un)Employment in Oregon Counties

Between September 2010 and September 2011, jobless rates* declined in all but four counties. Rates rose in Morrow (+0.4 percentage point), Baker (+0.5), and Gilliam (+0.7) counties over the year. Unemployment dropped by 1 percentage point or more over the year in 16 counties. The largest declines occurred in Crook County (-2.1 percentage points) and Deschutes County (-2.0).

Southern Oregon saw the largest employment gain over the year (1.4%), followed by Oregon’s combined five Portland metro counties (0.8%). The combined Central Oregon counties (0.5%) and Eastern Oregon (0.2%) saw smaller increases over the year. Employment declines occurred in the Willamette Valley (-2.0%) and the coast region (-0.6%).

For more local information, go to www.QualityInfo.org and click on the Regional Information map. The Oregon Employment Department will release the October statewide unemployment rate and industry employment data Wednesday, November 16th, and the October county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Monday, November 21st.

*Seasonally adjusted