The unemployment rate in Lincoln County ticked up slightly in April to 8.3 percent, the Oregon Employment Department announced Tuesday.
The unemployment rate in March was 8.1 percent.
The county’s unemployment rate is the highest in Oregon. The next closest is Curry County at 7.9 percent.
In April 2020 – after shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic – the unemployment rate in Lincoln County was 23.7 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate was 6 percent in April, and the national rate was 6.1 percent.
Erik Knoder, regional economist for the agency, said businesses added 160 jobs in April, and government employment rose by 10. The leisure and hospitality sector added 90 jobs. Manufacturing grew by 30 jobs. Other industries had smaller changes.
April’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 3,290 jobs compared with one year before, Knoder said, an increase of 24.2 percent. But Lincoln County lost 4,360 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 1,070 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment this April.
Almost every major industry added jobs over the year, Knoder said. Leisure and hospitality recovered 2,020 jobs from the year before, retail trade regained 520 jobs, and financial activities added back 240 jobs, he said.
