Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to rise, reaching 5.8 percent in December – up more than a full percentage point since July.
The Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday that Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate for December was 4.5 percent, the fifth consecutive month it has risen from its low of 3.5 percent last July. The national average was 3.5 percent in December.
After dipping to its lowest point last July, Lincoln County’s unemployment rate was back up to the same level it was in December 2021.
Region economist Erik Knoder said seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment in Lincoln County decreased by 120 jobs in December to 17,870 jobs. The private sector shed 280 jobs, Knoder said, government employment dropped by 40 jobs, the leisure and hospitality sector cut 180 jobs and food manufacturing shed 90 jobs.
December’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 90 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 0.5 percent. The county lost 4,880 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 830 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of December 2019.
