Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Falls Below 7.0 Percent

This morning, the Oregon Employment Department released employment estimates and the state unemployment rate for February.  Watch State Employment Economist Nick Beleiciks present the latest figures:

Here are a few labor market highlights from February:

• Oregon's February unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, the first time since August 2008 that the rate came in under 7.0 percent. 
• Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,900 following a gain of 2,100 in January. February marked the 8^th consecutive monthly gain. The last monthly private-sector job loss occurred 20 months ago.
• The manufacturing and construction industries each added more than 1,000 jobs.

For more details on employment in Oregon, read the full press release at our website, QualityInfo.org.