Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in May, the Oregon Employment Department announced this week, down slightly from 4.9 percent in April.

But the rate was essentially unchanged from May 2022, when it was 4.7 percent.

Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate and the national rate in May were both 3.7 percent.

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate had been on a steady increase since last July, reaching a high of 5.7 percent in February and then beginning to taper off.

Regional economist Erik Knoder said seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment in Lincoln County increased by 40 in May to 18,380 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A gain of 250 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment rose by 290.

The private sector added 230 jobs and government employment increased by 60, Knoder said. The leisure and hospitality sector grew by 90 jobs and food manufacturing added 80 jobs.

May’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 360 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 2 percent. The county lost 4,270 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 450 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of May 2019.