October 23, 2024 3:40 a.m.

Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 230 jobs in September after a gain of 100 in August, and a loss of 110 in July.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said in the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in September, there were relatively large gains of 40 jobs in both private education and health services. Transportation, warehousing and utilities added 20 jobs. There was a seasonal loss of 100 in leisure and hospitality and an additional loss of 40 in professional and business services.

Regional economist Brian Rooney said the government category gained 500 jobs in September, due to a seasonal gain of 560 in local education from the beginning of a new school year, and an additional gain of 10 in federal government. Rooney said these gains were counted by losses of 60 in noneducation local government and 10 in state government.

OED said when comparing September 2024 with September 2023, total nonfarm employment increased 240 jobs or 0.6 percent. There were private-sector over-the-year gains of 80 in manufacturing and retail trade. Financial services and the other services category both added 60 jobs, while transportation, warehousing and utilities gained 50 jobs. There were relatively large losses of 110 in private education and health services and 90 in professional and business services.

Rooney said the government category gained 200 jobs over the year from gains of 180 in local government and 20 in federal government.

The release said Douglas County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent in September compared with a revised 5.0 percent in August. The rate is up from 4.7 percent in September 2023. Douglas County’s record low unemployment rate was set in October 2019 at 4.3 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted September rate was 4.0 percent while the U.S. rate was 4.1 percent.