Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged At 5.2% In March (Photo) - 05/01/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2026

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist

(971) 301-3771

Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT

David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged at 5.2% in March

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in both March and February. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in March and 4.4% in February.

In March, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,800 jobs, following a loss of 6,900 jobs, as revised, in February. March’s gains were largest in retail trade (+900 jobs). Losses were largest in professional and business services (-2,400 jobs) and government (-800).

Retail trade rebounded somewhat from weak performance last year. It added 800 jobs in February and 900 jobs in March. However, it was still 1,900 jobs, or 0.9%, below its March 2025 level. Since March 2025, motor vehicle and parts dealers cut the most jobs of the published retail component industries. It employed 24,500 in March, which was a drop of 1,100 jobs over the past 12 months.

Government employment has declined over the past six months. Peaking at an all-time high of 318,700 jobs in September, it is now down to 313,200 by March. This was a loss of 5,500 jobs. Federal government continued to drop jobs. At 26,700 jobs in March, it is down 3,000 jobs from its recent high point of 29,700 jobs in October 2024. Local government, which employed 237,200 in March, has been trending downward over the past several months and is down 1,000 jobs, or 0.4%, in the past 12 months.

Professional and business services continued a three-year downtrend, cutting 2,400 jobs in March after a loss of 1,800 jobs in February. In the most recent 12 months, it cut 10,600 jobs, or 4.1%.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the March county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data on Tuesday, May 5, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for April on Wednesday, May 20. 

About Workforce and Economic Research

The Workforce and Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department develops and distributes quality economic and workforce information to help Oregonians make informed decisions and support a thriving economy. Staff collect data from state and federal records and surveys; analyze the available information; and share insights with the public in a variety of ways, including regular reports, publications, and the website, QualityInfo.org.

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

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Juan Serratos Named Director Of Paid Leave Oregon (Photo) - 04/20/26

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2026

Media Contact:  Communications@employ.oregon.gov;

Juan Serratos Named director of Paid Leave Oregon

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Employment Department (OED) has named Juan Serratos as the new Director of Paid Leave Oregon. Serratos has served as acting director of Paid Leave since July 2025 and has been part of the program’s leadership team since 2022. He has played an integral role in helping Paid Leave become a reliable source of support for workers and families across Oregon and a model for paid family and medical leave programs nationwide.

“Juan has a unique skill set and proven experience building and leading one of Oregon’s most important public service programs,” said Oregon Employment Department Director Andrew R. Stolfi. “He brings deep operational knowledge, strong leadership, and a commitment to serving Oregonians. Paid Leave Oregon is in good hands under Juan’s leadership.”

Serratos joined Paid Leave Oregon in January 2022 as deputy director after leading the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Services section beginning in 2019. He brings more than 17 years of public service experience, including work at Human Solutions, the Oregon Department of Human Services, and the Oregon Department of Justice. At OED, he helped rapidly build up the Benefits Services team during the pandemic response and has been a key leader in building Paid Leave Oregon from the ground up.

Since launching benefits in 2023, the program has become an essential part of Oregon’s support system for workers and families across the state. In 2025, the program served 103,000 people and their families and paid out more than $783 million in benefits.

“I’m proud of what this team has built,” said Serratos. “We’ve created a program that Oregonians can count on during some of the most important moments in their lives. I’m honored to continue leading this work as we strengthen customer service, keep the program running well, and make sure it remains sustainable and dependable for the people who rely on it.”

Paid Leave Oregon provides benefits to workers who need time away from work for some of life’s most important and difficult moments. The program supports employees who need to care for themselves or a family member with a serious medical condition, bond with a new child after birth, adoption, or foster placement, or take safe leave related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment.

Through partial wage replacement, Paid Leave Oregon helps workers take needed time off without losing all of their income, and it helps employers retain experienced employees who might otherwise be forced to leave the workforce. Eligible employees can receive up to 12 weeks of benefits per year, helping reduce the pressure to choose between a paycheck, a job, and caring for themselves or their families. Learn more at paidleave.oregon.gov.

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The Oregon Employment Department (OED) provides economic stability to Oregon communities by providing vital services to both businesses and workers.  OED supports businesses with finding qualified job candidates, labor market information, tax incentives and support, and retaining talent through economic downturns. OED promotes employment through wage replacement benefits during unemployment and significant life events, job placement, training, and useful career information. Learn more at employment.oregon.gov. 

Paid Leave Oregon provides temporary, paid time away from work so employees can have financial security when experiencing significant life events. Covered events include welcoming a new child, recovering from a serious health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or addressing issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or harassment. Paid leave benefits help Oregonians stay connected to their jobs and maintain financial stability during these major personal events. Learn more at paidleave.orogon.gov.

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged At 5.2% In February (Photo) - 04/15/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2026

Contact Information:

Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist

(971) 301-3771

Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT

David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was Unchanged at 5.2% in February

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in both February and January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4% in February and 4.3% in January.

In February, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 5,400 jobs, following a gain of 1,600 jobs, as revised, in January. February’s gains were largest in financial activities (+800 jobs). Losses were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-1,500); and professional and business services (-1,300).

Financial activities added 800 jobs in February, which was a rare monthly gain for the industry after persistent declines over the past three years. It employed 99,800 in February, which was down 1,100 jobs, or -1.1%, since February 2025.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities employment was choppy in recent months, cutting 1,600 jobs in February following a gain of 1,500 in January. It employed 78,400 in February, which was 400 jobs, or 0.5%, above its year-ago level and close to its average employment throughout much of the past five years.

Leisure and hospitality cut 1,500 jobs in February following a gain of 1,200 in January. During the prior three years, it was remarkably steady, averaging just over 207,000 jobs.

Professional and business services continued its downtrend of the past three years, cutting 1,300 jobs in February and another 2,000 jobs in January. In the most recent 12 months, it cut 8,700 jobs, or 3.4%. Since February 2025, each of its three component industries contracted by more than 2%: administrative and waste services (-4,200 jobs, or -4.3%); professional and technical services (-3,200 jobs, or -2.9%); and management of companies and enterprises (-1,300 jobs, or -2.7%).

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the February county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data on Tuesday, April 21, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for March on Friday, May 1. 

About Workforce and Economic Research

The Workforce and Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department develops and distributes quality economic and workforce information to help Oregonians make informed decisions and support a thriving economy. Staff collect data from state and federal records and surveys; analyze the available information; and share insights with the public in a variety of ways, including regular reports, publications, and the website, QualityInfo.org.

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

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