The Unemployment Rate Edges Down While High Unemployment Continues

Employment in Lane County (Eugene MSA)

May seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are not available for Lane County due to processing delays caused by large changes in unemployment in recent months. Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates are being used for this news release. They reflect May’s increase
in employment-related to Phase 1 reopening and a small decrease from the record unemployment rate reported in April. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for May will be available on Qualityinfo.org or by request at a later date. We apologize for any inconvenience
this causes.

Lane County’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from a record high April rate of 16.0 percent to 14.4 percent, a record high for May. The previous record May rate was 12.7 percent in 2009. The Oregon not seasonally adjusted May rate was 13.8 percent and the
U.S. rate was 13.0 percent.

Lane County’s payroll employers added 4,500 jobs in May, following a loss of 24,700 jobs in April. The largest private-sector gains in Lane County were in leisure and hospitality (2,200), education and health services (1,800), and manufacturing (500).

Government lost 1,500 in May due to losses in local education (-1,800) and state government (-100) that were countered by a gain in noneducation local government (+400).