For the third straight month Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed the same – 4.6 percent May – the ideentical rate as in March and April, the Oregon Employment Department announced Tuesday.
The county’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May 2023.
Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May, and the national rate was 4 percent.
Regional economist Shaun Barrick said that the county’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged in May at 18,630 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A gain of 290 jobs was expected for the month, Barrick said, and the county’s total nonfarm employment increased by 290.
The private sector gained 270 jobs in May with leisure and hospitality adding 110 jobs, food manufacturing adding 60 jobs and local government increasing by 20, Barrick said.
May’s total nonfarm employment numbers were down from one year before by 170 jobs, a decrease of 0.9 percent. Private education and health services was up 40 jobs over the year in May, Barrick said, while food manufacturing shed 150 jobs over the year and leisure, hospitality and retail trade lost 80 jobs. Local government, including tribal and education, added 140 jobs over the past year, Barrick said.
