Oregon’s unemployment department reports the unemployment rate was 4.5% in February. The most recent month it was higher was August 2021, when it reached 4.7%.
SALEM, Ore. —
Both Oregon and Washington saw a slight increase in their unemployment rate in February.
The Oregon Employment Department reported Wednesday that the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in February. That’s the highest since August 2021, when the rate was 4.7 percent. The department notes it’s slightly higher than during the three years before the coronavirus recession that started in 2020.
Oregon’s unemployment rate in January was 4.4 percent.
Washington’s Employment Security Department also released its monthly employment report on Wednesday. It reports February’s employment rate was 4.4 percent. That’s an increase from 4.3 percent in January, but the same rate compared to February 2024.
Focusing back on Oregon, February’s job gains were the largest in professional and business services, which saw an increase of 1,700 jobs. That’s followed by the information sector with 700, manufacturing with 600 and government with 500. The construction industry saw the largest decline with 2,200 jobs lost, followed by private educational services with 900 and financial activities with 700.
Looking over the past 12 months, Oregon saw a small increase in the number of overall jobs at 18,500, or 0.9 percent. A large majority of that comes from the health care and social assistance fields, making up 14,000 jobs. Government followed with 8,700 jobs added. The manufacturing industry led the state in job losses with 6,000. Construction and retail trade each saw a decline of 1,800 jobs.
In Washington state, preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show non-farm employment in Washington decreased by 7,200 in February. Most of that came from the private sector, while the public sector shed 300 jobs.
From February 2024 to February 2025, Washington saw an overall increase of 39,000 jobs statewide, not adjusted for a seasonal basis. The private sector added 31,800 jobs while the public sector added an estimated 7,200 jobs over the year.
Washington saw its largest one-month gains in transportation, warehousing and utilities and retail trade. Each added 1,900 jobs. Construction saw the largest losses with 7,200 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 5,200.
The February 2025 unemployment rate for the United States was 4.1 percent, an increase from 4 percent in January 2025.
