Oregon — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has suspended monthly employment and unemployment reports due to the federal government shutdown that began October 1, 2025. As a result, Oregon’s September employment and unemployment data are unavailable.
In the meantime, the Oregon Employment Department released its latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), covering data through June 2025. The report shows that Oregon’s total covered employment stood at 2,004,700 jobs, down 3,800 (-0.2%) from the same quarter in 2024.
Private-sector employment declined by 11,100 jobs (-0.6%), led by manufacturing, which lost 7,400 positions (-3.9%). In contrast, the health care and social assistance sector grew by 14,100 jobs (+4.7%) over the year.
Government employment rose by 7,300 jobs (+2.4%), with most gains in local government. Federal employment dipped slightly, losing 400 jobs compared with the prior year.
Federal government positions remain a small but significant part of Oregon’s economy, accounting for about 1.5% of all jobs statewide and employing an average of 29,000 workers in the first half of 2025. Rural counties saw the highest concentration of federal jobs — including Sherman (15%), Grant (9%), Harney (8%), and Lake (8%) counties — and those positions offered average annual wages of $98,500, roughly 38% higher than the statewide average.
The Employment Department will continue publishing available data and plans to release the next Oregon Job Vacancy Survey on October 23, followed by a statewide update on November 19 as federal operations resume.
About the Author
