Oregon Unemployment Rate Holds At 5.1% In August

Oregon’s unemployment rate remained largely unchanged in August as the state continued to experience modest job losses compared with a year ago.

The statewide unemployment rate was 5.1% in August, down slightly from 5.2% in July, according to the Oregon Employment Department. Oregon’s rate has remained between 5% and 5.3% for the past 18 months.

The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in both July and August.

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 800 jobs in August. That followed a revised loss of 1,800 jobs in July.

Professional and business services recorded the largest monthly decline, losing 1,100 jobs. Construction added 700 jobs, while retail trade gained 500.

Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost approximately 10,900 payroll jobs, a decline of 0.5%.

Health care and social assistance continued to lead employment growth, adding 10,200 jobs, or 3.2%, since August 2025. Private education added 800 jobs, and other services gained 1,300.

Manufacturing experienced the largest year-over-year decline, losing 6,800 jobs, or 3.8%. Most other major industries reported job losses of less than 2%.

Despite the year-over-year decline, the Employment Department said there have been signs of stabilization during the past five months. Oregon added a net 1,800 payroll jobs between March and August, representing growth of approximately 0.1%.

Industries recording the largest gains during that period included:

• Health care and social assistance, with 3,800 additional jobs
• Construction, with 2,200 additional jobs
• Other services, with 1,700 additional jobs
• Retail trade, with 1,400 additional jobs
• Private education, with 1,400 additional jobs

Those gains were partially offset by the loss of 3,100 manufacturing jobs, 2,600 leisure and hospitality jobs, and 2,000 government jobs.

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release August unemployment and employment figures for counties and metropolitan areas on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Statewide employment data for September is scheduled to be released Wednesday, Oct. 14.