Oregon Unemployment Rates and Economic Impact

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Senior man looks serious in front of a no vacancies message highlighting unemployment issues.
Credit: pexels.com, Senior man looks serious in front of a no vacancies message highlighting unemployment issues.

Oregon's unemployment rate has been a topic of discussion in recent years. According to data from 2020, the state's unemployment rate peaked at 14.2% in April.

The economic impact of high unemployment rates is significant. Oregon's GDP decreased by 3.8% in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The state's manufacturing sector was particularly hard hit, with a decline of 10.3% in 2020. This sector is a significant contributor to Oregon's economy.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Mass State Unemployment Rate

Oregon Unemployment Rates

Oregon's unemployment rate has been on a slow and steady climb, with a one-tenth of a percentage point increase in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of such growth.

In July, the state's unemployment rate fell to 5.2%, from 5.6% in June, which is slightly below the national rate of 5.4%.

The number of people unemployed in Oregon peaked in April 2020 at 280,473, but has since decreased to 78,070 in November 2023.

Oregon's jobless rate began dropping more quickly in June and July, after decreasing by only 0.1 percentage point for five months in a row.

Recommended read: July Mortgage Rates

Credit: youtube.com, OED Statewide Unemployment Rate

The state lost 4,300 jobs in June, with the largest losses coming in the manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, retail trade, and professional and business services sectors.

Here's a breakdown of Oregon's unemployment rate over the past few months:

The state's job growth has been significant, with nonfarm payroll employment growing by 20,000 jobs in July, surpassing the average gains for the prior six months.

Job Market Impact

The job market in Oregon has seen its fair share of ups and downs. In December, employment fell slightly due to losses in semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, resulting in a 0.1% increase in the unemployment rate to 4.1%.

The losses were highest in leisure and hospitality, with 1,900 jobs lost, followed by manufacturing with 1,800 job losses. The unemployment rate has hovered around 4% since 2022, a significant improvement from the 14% spike at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Oregon's unemployment rate is still in line with national and recent state averages, with the U.S. unemployment rate also at 4.1% in December. The state's unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing since 2022, a trend that's expected to continue.

For your interest: Nc State Unemployement Rate

People Working in the Office
Credit: pexels.com, People Working in the Office

Here's a breakdown of the job losses in different sectors:

The losses in manufacturing were particularly notable, with the semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing sector shedding 1,500 jobs. This accounted for most of the December manufacturing employment reductions.

Interestingly, the health care and social assistance sector saw a significant increase of 1,900 jobs in December, making it the largest gain in that sector. This is part of a larger trend, with the health care and social assistance sector experiencing an 18,100 job increase over the past 12 months.

Oregon Unemployment History

Oregon unemployment rates have been a topic of interest in recent years. The number of people unemployed in Oregon peaked in April 2023 at 86,849.

In December 2023, the national unemployment rate was 3.7%, while Oregon's unemployment rate was not available. By November 2023, the national unemployment rate remained the same, but Oregon's unemployment rate dropped to 3.6%.

Oregon's unemployment numbers have been steadily increasing since August 2023, when there were 73,506 people unemployed. By November 2023, this number had grown to 78,070.

Credit: youtube.com, Oregon Unemployment and Economic Outlook for August 2025

Here's a breakdown of Oregon's unemployment numbers for the past few months:

In fact, the number of people unemployed in Oregon was at its lowest in August 2023, with 73,506 people out of work. Since then, the number has grown by 4,564.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will unemployment pay in Oregon?

In Oregon, unemployment benefits are 1.25% of your total base year gross earnings. Use Oregon's Unemployment Insurance Estimator for an estimate of your benefits.

Bertha Hoeger

Junior Writer

Bertha Hoeger is a versatile writer with a keen interest in financial institutions and community development. Her work primarily focuses on banking and microfinance sectors, providing insightful analyses of various Indian financial entities and organizations. She has covered a range of topics, from banks based in Maharashtra and those established in 2019 to private sector banks and microfinance companies.

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