Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to rise slow, hitting 5.2 percent in October – up from 5 percent in September, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
The county has one of the highest unemployment rates in Oregon and the rate is rising again after dipping to 4.7 percent in July and then 4.9 percent in August.
The statewide unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in October, and the national rate was 3.7 percent.
In Lincoln County, seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 30 in October to 17,870 jobs, according to regional economist Erik Knoder. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A loss of 420 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment dropped by 390.
The private sector shed 370 jobs, Knoder said, and government employment slipped by 20 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector cut 280 jobs, he said, and manufacturing shed 50 jobs.
October’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 270 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 1.5 percent. The county lost 4,880 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 820 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of October 2019.
The leisure and hospitality sector has recovered 180 jobs compared with the year before, Knoder said, and private education and health services grew by 60 jobs over the year. On the other hand, food manufacturing shed 100 jobs over the year, and retail trade lost 70 jobs. Local government education added 90 jobs over the past year, he said.
