December 19, 2024 3:30 a.m.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment gained 5,100 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,500 jobs in October.

A State of Oregon Employment Department release said November’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance which rose by 2,300 jobs. Construction added 2,100 jobs, while professional and business services gained 700 jobs. Declines were largest in leisure and hospitality, which lost 700 jobs.

State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said private health care and social assistance has been adding jobs very rapidly since June 2022. Krumenauer said it expanded by 41,700 jobs or 15.6 percent, during that 29-month period. The fastest growing component during that time was social assistance, which added 17,800 jobs or 27 percent. Nursing and residential care facilities gained 9,400 jobs or 19.3 percent. The two other component industries added jobs, but grew less rapidly: Hospitals added 6,800 jobs or 11.9 percent while ambulatory health care services gained 10,200 jobs or 10.7 percent.

OED said construction rebounded in November from a three-month dip, returning the sector’s total employment to 117,500, about where it had been from July 2022 to August 2024.

Krumenauer said in the past 12 months, health care and social assistance grew rapidly, adding 17,500 jobs or 6.0 percent. Government added 6,900 jobs or 2.2 percent. In that time, only two major industries declined by 1,000 jobs or more: retail trade lost 1,700 jobs or 0.8 percent while leisure and hospitality declined by 1,400 jobs or 0.7 percent. About half of the major industries were essentially flat over the year, with job changes of less than 1,200 in either direction.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in November and 4.0 percent in October. It has consistently remained between 4.0 percent and 4.2 percent since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in November and 4.1 percent in October.