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Oregon’s Unemployment Hits 5.2% as State Falls to 47th Worst in the Nation Top Stories By Diane Megaw On Jan 8, 2026 FILE - Oregon Employment Department Oregon Employment Department monthly employment and unemployment data for November shows that the state’s unemployment rate was 5.2%, making Oregon one of the worst states for unemployment. Oregon Unemployment Reaches 5.2% in November After a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown, the Oregon Employment Department published data, excluding October, due to the shutdown. In September and November, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November. Tidings Data Snapshot Oregon unemployment / where it ranks in November 5.2% Oregon unemployment rate / seasonally adjusted 47 / 51 Oregon rank among states plus D.C. 4.6% U.S. unemployment rate / November 8.9% Oregon U 6 underutilization / seasonally adjusted 2.13M Oregonians employed / November estimate Source: Oregon Employment Department press release for November 2025 plus BLS LAUS state unemployment rates table Dailytidings.com Gains in employment in Oregon were in: Nonfarm payroll employment: Seasonally adjusted payrolls rose by 1,600 jobs in November, following a loss of 2,000 jobs in October. Leisure and hospitality: 3,900 jobs were added between July and November, following a stagnant period of employment from 2023 through mid-2025, of which 2,100 jobs were added in November Health care and social assistance: 10,900 jobs, or 3.5%, were added between November 2024 and November 2025, and +1,000 jobs were added in November. Tidings Data Snapshot Seasonally adjusted job change / October to November Biggest gains Leisure and hospitality: +2,100 jobs Health care and social assistance: +1,000 Financial activities: +500 Professional and business services: +400 Biggest losses Government: 800 fewer jobs Information: 600 fewer Other services: 400 fewer Source: Oregon Employment Department press release table of seasonally adjusted payroll changes Dailytidings.com The most significant losses were: Government: 2,300 jobs cut between September and November. The federal government lost 800 jobs over the most recent two months, as those taking early retirement incentives were recorded as leaving payrolls in October. Information: 1,200 cut jobs between September and November. Since reaching a peak of 37,300 jobs three years ago, the November data reflect 33,400 total jobs. BLS Ranks Oregon Tied 47th out of 51 In November Despite job gains in some Oregon industries, the state remained in the highest unemployment tier nationwide in November, according to the monthly benchmark the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses to compare states. The federal government rated Oregon’s November 2025 unemployment rates among the nation’s highest in the BLS’s federal seasonally adjusted state ranking. At 5.2%, Oregon’s unemployment rate put the state at a tied 47th out of 51 states- 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Worse states were Washington, D.C. at 6.5%, California at 5.5%, and New Jersey at 5.4%. Metro area Unemployment rate Month Portland Vancouver Hillsboro 5.0% Sep 2025 Salem 4.9% Sep 2025 Eugene Springfield 5.3% Sep 2025 Medford 5.5% Sep 2025 Bend 4.8% Sep 2025 Corvallis 4.8% Sep 2025 Grants Pass 6.9% Sep 2025 Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email