July 16, 2025
Job Losses Deepen In Oregon; Unemployment Rate rises to 4.9%
Oregon’s labor market contracted further in June, with seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declining by 4,300 jobs. This follows a downward revision to May’s figures, which now reflect a loss of 2,100 jobs, reinforcing a two-month trend of broad-based job decline. The state’s unemployment rate rose to 4.9%, up from 4.3% in December 2024 and notably above the national rate of 4.1%, indicating relatively weaker labor market conditions.
Losses in June were concentrated in both goods-producing and core service sectors. Other Services (−1,440), Manufacturing (−1,200), and Construction (−400) posted the steepest declines. The reported manufacturing losses do not include the impact of recent layoffs at Intel, which occurred outside the reference period for June’s survey data. Leisure and Hospitality also saw significant losses (−1,000), led by a drop of 1,300 jobs in Accommodation and Food Services. In contrast, Health Care and Social Assistance added 900 jobs, partially offsetting a 600-job loss in Educational Services. The Information sector also added 500 jobs. Meanwhile, total nonfarm employment across the U.S. rose by 147,000 jobs in June.
Key Highlights—Oregon June 2025 Employment Data
Industry-Level Dynamics
- Overall Employment: Oregon’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm payroll employment continued its downward path, declining by 4,300 jobs in June. In contrast, national employment rose. May estimates for Oregon were also revised downward.
- Private Sector Losses: Most of the losses occurred in the private sector, which shed about 3,700 jobs, continuing its downward trend.
- Other Services, Manufacturing, and Leisure and Hospitality Hit Hard: The Other Services sector saw the steepest decline, losing 1,400 jobs, followed by Manufacturing (−1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (−1,000). Losses in Leisure and Hospitality were driven by job cuts in Accommodation and Food Services (−1,300).
- Professional and Business Services Down: The sector lost nearly 1,000 jobs, mostly due to a 1,400-job decline in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, which was only partially offset by gains in Administrative and Support Services.
- Education and Health Services Up: The sector added 300 jobs, led by 900 jobs gained in Health Care and Social Assistance, despite a 600-job loss in Educational Services.
- Information Sector Gained: The Information sector added 500 jobs in June.
- Little Change in Several Industries: Employment was relatively flat in Mining and Logging, Transportation and Warehousing, and Financial Activities.
- Government Sector Down: Government employment fell by 600 jobs, with local government down 400. Federal and state government employment was mostly unchanged.
Since the Onset of the Pandemic:
- Total nonfarm employment in Oregon is up 36,700 jobs since January 2020.
- However, five of eleven supersectors remain below pre-pandemic levels: Mining and Logging, Manufacturing, Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Financial Activities, Leisure and Hospitality.