Oregon’s unemployment rate remained at an all-time low of 4 percent in August, according to the state employment department.
The state’s unemployment rate has been between 4 percent and 4.4 percent for 34 consecutive months, dating back to November 2016. It has remained at 4 percent since June. The unemployment rate was never below 4.7 percent in the 40 years before 2016.
Total nonfarm payroll employment statewide added 900 jobs in August, significantly fewer than the 2,400-job gain in July. In the first eight months of 2019, total statewide nonfarm employment gains averaged 1,000 jobs per month, and in 2018, Oregon gained an average 3,000 jobs per month.
August statewide job gains of 1,600 in the leisure and hospitality sector and of 1,100 jobs in the professional and business services sector were offset by 900 jobs lost in wholesale trade, 700 lost in retail trade, 600 lost in health care and social assistance and 900 lost in “other services,” according to the state employment department.
