Lincoln County’s unemployment rate inched down again in October to 6.1 percent, dropping from 6.5 percent in September – and far below the 8.6 percent rate the previous year.
The county’s unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in August, 7.2 percent in July and 7.7 percent in June.
But the county’s unemployment rate remains much higher than October’s statewide rate of 4.4 percent and the national rate of 4.6 percent.
The Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday that seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment in Lincoln County increased by 120 in October to 17,820 jobs.
Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A loss of 440 jobs was expected for the month, but the county’s total nonfarm employment instead fell by 320. The private sector shed 310 jobs, and government employment dipped by 10. The leisure and hospitality sector cut 250 jobs. Food manufacturing trimmed 30 jobs.
October’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 480 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 2.8 percent. The county lost 4,360 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 960 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of October 2019.
