In February 2022, 35 of Oregon’s 36 counties experienced over-the-month decreases in their unemployment rates. Wheeler County experienced no over-the-month change in its unemployment rate. Five counties experienced a 0.3 percentage point decrease or more over the month including Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Jefferson, and Union counties. 

Klamath County had Oregon’s highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February at 5.5%. Other counties with some of the highest unemployment rates included Grant (5.4%), Curry (5.3%), Crook (5.2%), and Lincoln (5.2%). 

Benton and Wheeler counties registered the lowest unemployment rate for the month at 3.0% each. Other counties with some of the lowest unemployment rates in February were Hood River (3.2%), Washington (3.3%), and Sherman (3.4%). Sixteen counties had unemployment rates at or below the statewide rate of 4.0%. Twelve counties also had unemployment rates at or below the nationwide rate of 3.8%.

Map of seasonally adjusted unemployment rate by county in Oregon for February 2022. Klamath County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5%. Benton and Wheeler counties had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.0% each.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased in all six of Oregon’s broad regions between February 2021 and February 2022. Central Oregon has recovered from pandemic job losses. All other areas still have room to recover. The largest job increases since February 2021 occurred in the Central Oregon (5.5%) region. The Portland 5 (5.3%) and Willamette Valley (4.1%) regions also experienced large over-the-year employment increases. Growth occurred at a slower pace in other regions: Eastern Oregon (3.1%), Southern Oregon (1.8%), and the Coast (1.6%).

Bar chart of over-the-year employment change in Oregon by Region from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022. All regions experienced OTY increases in employment. Central Oregon experienced the largest job increases at 5.5% followed by Portland 5 (5.3%) and Willamette Valley (4.1%). Slower growth occurred in Eastern Oregon (3.1%), Southern Oregon (1.8%), and the Coast (1.6%)

Next News Releases
The Oregon Employment Department will release statewide unemployment rate and industry employment data for March 2022 on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. The March 2022 county and metropolitan area unemployment rates will be released on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

Read the original press release here.



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