November 21, 2024 3:40 a.m. 

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 120 jobs in October after a gain of 280 in September and a gain of 90 in August.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in October, there was a relatively large gain of 80 in private education and health services. There was a seasonal loss in leisure and hospitality of 100 and additional losses of 50 in professional and business services and 30 in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Regional Economist Brian Rooney said the government category gained 110 jobs in October, due to a seasonal gain of 140 in local education from the beginning of a new school year. Rooney said this gain was countered by losses of 20 in non-education local government and 10 in federal government.

OED said when comparing October 2024 with October 2023, total nonfarm employment increased 170 jobs, or 0.4 percent. Private sector over-the-year gains of 120 were seen in manufacturing, and of 50 in both private education and health services and the other services category. There were relatively large losses of 90 in retail trade and professional and business services, and of 80 in leisure and hospitality.

Rooney said government gained 200 jobs over the year from gains of 140 in local education, and 40 each in Indian tribal and federal government. These gains were countered by losses of 10 each in state government and noneducation local government.

The release said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent in October compared with a revised 5.0 percent in September. The rate is up from 4.8p percent in October 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in November 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted October rate was 4.0 percent while the U.S. rate as 4.1 percent.