Oregon sees highest unemployment rate since 2021

Published 11:54 am Monday, March 10, 2025

Oregon’s unemployment rate is up 0.3% since January of 2024, reaching the highest levels since September of 2021, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

In January, the state’s unemployment rate reached 4.4%, 0.4% higher than the national average. Manufacturing and retail saw the largest declines within the past year.

“Manufacturing continued its decline of the past two years, cutting 6,900 jobs (-3.7%) in the 12 months through January, while retail trade shed 2,300 jobs (-1.1%) during that time,” the Oregon Employment Department said on Monday, March 10..

In January, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,400 jobs, after a decline of 2,000 jobs in December. The job markets with the largest growth were professional and business services (1,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (1,200 jobs), retail trade (900 jobs) and private educational services (900 jobs).

KOIN 6 News is a news partner of the Portland Tribune. Their full story can be found at koin.com.