DOUGLAS COUNTY EMPLOYERS ADD 230 JOBS IN SEPTEMBER

November 15, 2024 3:30 a.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 230 jobs in September after a gain of 100 in August and a loss of 110 in July.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in September, there were relatively large gains of 40 in private education and health services. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities gained 20. There was a seasonal loss in leisure and hospitality of 100 and an additional loss of 40 in professional and business services.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the government category gained 500 jobs in September, due to a seasonal gain of 560 in local education from the beginning of a new school year, and an additional gain of 10 in federal government. Rooney said these gains were countered with losses of 60 in non-education local government and 10 in state government.

OED said when comparing September 2024 with September 2023, total nonfarm employment increased by 240 jobs or 0.6 percent. Private-sector over-the-year gains of 80 were seen in manufacturing. Financial activities and the other services category gained 60 while transportation, warehousing and utilities gained 50. There were relatively large losses of 110 in private education and health services and of 90 in professional and business services.

Rooney said government gained 200 jobs over the year from gains of 180 in local government and 20 in federal government.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent in September, compared with a revised 5.0 percent in August. The rate is up from 4.7 percent in September 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in October 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted September rate was 4.0 percent, compared with the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent.