Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to slowly drop – hitting 5.4 percent in January, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
The rate was 5.5 percent in December, 5.7 percent in November and 6.1 percent in October. The unemployment rate in January 2021 was 8.4 percent. Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in January, and the national rate was 4 percent.
Regional economist Erik Knoder said seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment, which compares expected changes with actual changes, increased by 80 in January to 17,780 jobs. The private sector shed 180 jobs, and government employment dropped by 100, Knoder said. The leisure and hospitality sector cut 100 jobs and trade, transportation, and utilities trimmed 40 jobs. Manufacturing added 40 jobs.
January’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 540 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 3.3 percent, Knoder said. The county lost 4,360 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 1,090 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of January 2019.
Most private industries have added jobs over the past year, according to Knoder’s monthly report. Leisure and hospitality recovered 550 jobs from the year before and other services regained 70 jobs while local government lost 100 jobs.
