Oregon Employment Rose by 800 Jobs in November

This morning the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the preliminary November employment estimates for Oregon. BLS analysts estimate that Oregon added 600 jobs over the month on a seasonally adjusted basis. The private sector added 1,400 jobs, while public-sector employment declined by 800. Revised estimates for October show a loss of 800 jobs, when a loss of 2,400 was initially reported. Upward revisions were largest in professional and business services and in leisure and hospitality.

Oregon's unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.4 percent November from the October rate of 8.6 percent. The unemployment rate has remained fairly steady -- between 8.4 percent and 8.9 percent -- throughout 2012. In November, nearly 160,000 Oregonians were unemployed. That's 12,300 fewer unemployed persons than in November 2011, but 64,200 above the number of unemployed persons in November 2007, the month before the official onset of the Great Recession.

You'll find more information in the full news release, and data specific to your area on our Current Employment Statistics and Local Area Unemployment Statistics pages.