Oregon — The Oregon Employment Department released its September 2025 employment and unemployment figures following a significant delay caused by the federal government shutdown, showing a modest gain in jobs alongside a rising unemployment rate.
Oregon’s unemployment rate measured 5.2% in September, up from 5.0% in August. The rate has been trending upward for much of the past two years after reaching a recent low of 3.6% in spring 2023. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.4% in September, compared with 4.3% in August.
Despite the higher unemployment rate, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,300 jobs in September, following a revised gain of 3,500 jobs in August. The largest job gains occurred in health care and social assistance, which added 1,300 jobs, followed by construction and professional and business services, each adding 700 jobs. The largest monthly job losses were recorded in financial activities, which shed 700 jobs.
Over the past year, health care and social assistance has continued to be Oregon’s strongest growth sector, adding 11,400 jobs between September 2024 and September 2025, an increase of 3.7%.
Construction employment, however, remained below last year’s levels. September construction employment totaled 116,100 jobs, down 1,600 jobs, or 1.4%, from September 2024, reflecting weaker summer employment compared with the previous two years.
Professional and business services showed mixed results. While the sector added jobs in September, it has declined significantly since peaking in March 2023. Employment in the sector fell from 268,900 jobs in March 2023 to 253,700 jobs in September 2025, a loss of 15,200 jobs, or 5.7%. Over the past 12 months, administrative and waste services declined by 4,900 jobs, professional and technical services by 2,300 jobs, and management of companies and enterprises by 1,000 jobs.
Manufacturing continued its downward trend, losing 200 jobs in September and 9,600 jobs over the past year, a 5.1% decline since September 2024. Both durable and nondurable goods manufacturing experienced similar percentage losses.
Additional state and national employment data are available through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.or.htm.
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