The Oregon Employment Department released the latest state unemployment rate and jobs numbers showing the state’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in February, down from 4.2 percent in January.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was similar to the U.S. rate (3.8 percent) for the month. Oregon’s labor force continued to grow in February to a record high of 2.175 million people, and more Oregonians found jobs.
Overall, Oregon employers added 12,300 jobs last month, and no broad sector of Oregon’s economy experienced large job losses. Oregon’s leisure and hospitality employers added 3,500 jobs, the most of any sector. Construction gained 2,300 jobs, private health care and social assistance gained 1,600 jobs, and professional and business services employment gained 1,200 jobs.
Oregon has regained 86 percent of the jobs it lost in spring 2020, compared with 90 percent jobs regained for the U.S. as a whole.
