Fourth Consecutive Month of Job Growth in Oregon

Oregon's nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1,700 jobs in June. Revised estimates for May showed a gain of 7,600 jobs, 700 more than originally reported last month. Employment has grown for four consecutive months in Oregon, with a total of 13,600 jobs added statewide.

In June, two major industries posted large job gains: manufacturing (+900 jobs), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,700). Manufacturing employment hit its highest level in more than three years. Trade, transportation, and utilities has now regained nearly one-half of the employment losses that occurred in 2009. 

Large losses were seen in government (-1,200) and other services (-1,000) in June. Job losses in other services stemmed primarily from religious organizations cutting staff for the summer months. Government sectors, on the other hand, have seen substantial job cuts over a four year period. Local government education shed 6,200 jobs over that time, and federal government lost 1,600 jobs.

Oregon posted an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent in June, essentially unchanged from 8.4 percent in May. In June there were 172,489 unemployed Oregonians. That's 20,110 fewer unemployed individuals than in June 2011. However, prior to the recession in June 2007, the unemployment count totaled 98,345.

Want more information on the state's employment situation? You can find additional details in the Employment Department's news release, or on our current employment and local area unemployment statistics pages.