Oregon and South Central Oregon Unemployment Rates
Seasonally Adjusted, May 2014 – May 2019
The unemployment rate remains little changed over the past year for both Klamath and Lake counties
DAMON RUNBERG, REGIONAL ECONOMIST
Seasonal hiring this spring was stronger than typically expected as businesses ramp up for the busy summer season. The unemployment rate remains little changed over the past year for both Klamath and Lake counties; however, levels of unemployment are quite low for the region.
Klamath County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in May, down from 6.9 percent in April. The rate was 6.1 percent last May. Klamath County added 460 jobs in May, strong hiring for this time of year.
Total nonfarm employment is essentially unchanged from this time last year, up 0.5 percent (+120 jobs). Over the past year Klamath County posted notable job gains in retail trade, health services, and local government education. However, many of these gains were negated by losses in professional and business services and manufacturing.
Lake County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent in May from 6.5 percent in April. The rate is up from this time last year when it was 5.4 percent.
Lake County added 70 jobs in May, which is consistent with normal seasonal hiring. Total nonfarm employment is up 70 jobs from last year (+3.1%). Job growth over the past year was concentrated in local government, health services, and retail trade. The only notable job losses were in leisure and hospitality (-30 jobs).
Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture, and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics.
Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture, and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics.
The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly payroll employment and labor force data for Oregon’s metropolitan areas and counties. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.
The Oregon Employment Department payroll employment estimates are revised quarterly using information from unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use data from this official Oregon series unless noted.
The department also makes the BLS-produced nonfarm payroll employment series for metropolitan areas available. These are revised annually by BLS.
Advertisement