Oregon and Washington Report Divergent September Job Trends
Oregon added 5,800 jobs while Washington lost 15,400 in September, though both states saw unemployment rates trend lower than national figures.
The Oregon Employment Department reported that Oregon's unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% in September, a slight decrease from 5.1% in August. The state saw its strongest monthly gain in over a year, adding 5,800 nonfarm payroll jobs. Growth was primarily driven by the construction, health care, and leisure sectors, while retail trade experienced a loss of 1,500 jobs. Over the last 12 months, Oregon's total payroll employment increased by 2,600 positions, despite steep annual losses in manufacturing and government.
In contrast, the Washington State Employment Security Department reported that Washington's unemployment rate fell to 4.8% in September, marking a three-month streak of declines. However, this drop occurred alongside an estimated loss of 15,400 jobs, with 10,400 positions cut from the public sector and 5,000 from private employers. Significant declines were noted in government, education, and health services, while construction and professional services saw gains.
Chief labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman noted that Washington's falling unemployment rate reflects both a decrease in unemployed workers and an overall reduction in the size of the labor force. These regional trends diverged from national data, which showed the U.S. unemployment rate rising from 4.1% in August to 4.2% in September.
