The unemployment rate in Lincoln County continued its downward trend in December, according to the latest figures from the Oregon Employment Department, but remains significantly higher than the rest of Oregon or the nation.
The county’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in December, a slight drop from the 5.7 percent rate in November and more than two percentage points lower that the 7.8 percent rate in November 2020.
The county’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in October, 6.5 percent in September and 6.9 percent in August. The statewide unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in December, and the national rate was 3.9 percent.
The agency’s regional economist, Erik Knoder, said seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 50 in December to 17,820 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes.
A loss of 230 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment fell by only 180, Knoder said, as the private sector shed 130 jobs and government employment dropped by 50. The leisure and hospitality sector cut 160 jobs.
December’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 490 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 2.9 percent, Knoder said. Lincoln County lost 4,360 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 970 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of December 2019.
