What a difference a year makes.
At the end of 2022 the unemployment rate in Lincoln County was 5.8 percent. Last week, the Oregon Employment Department said the December 2023 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the county was 4.1 percent.
That’s an unemployment rate decrease of 29 percent over a year’s time.
Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in December; the national rate was 3.7 percent.
The agency’s regional economist, Shaun Barrick, said that seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 60 in December to 19,010 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A loss of 280 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment only decreased by 220, Barrick reported.
The private sector lost 210 jobs in December, with the leisure and hospitality sector losing 190 of those.
December’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 670 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 3.8 percent, Barrick said. Trade, transportation, and utility employment was up 120 jobs during 2023 and food manufacturing grew by 90 jobs. Food and beverage retailers shed 50 jobs over the year, Barrick said, but local government, including tribal and education, added 280 jobs during the year.
