SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s unemployment rose to 6.4{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in December, up from 6{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in November. This was the state’s first monthly increase in its unemployment rate following seven months of declines.
In December, Oregon lost 1.4{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} of nonfarm payroll employment while the U.S. shed 0.1{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1}. Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment dropped by 25,500 jobs in December, following a revised gain of 2,100 jobs in November.
“December’s job losses reflect the devastation COVID-19 continues to inflict on the lives and livelihoods of Oregonians. Ten months into the pandemic, Oregon has regained just 37{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} of the jobs lost in this recession,” said Gail Krumenauer, state employment economist for the Oregon Employment Department.
Leisure and hospitality saw the biggest job losses, with 28,600 jobs, and several other industries cut at least 800 jobs, including private educations services (1,700 jobs), government (1,300 jobs) and manufacturing (900 jobs).
But some other major industries saw an increase in jobs, such as retail which gained over 2,000 jobs, as well as transportation and health care.
