October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Oregon Employment Snapshot

• In October, Oregon added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 13,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Oregon’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Oregon rose by 906, and over the past 12 months it rose by 22,642.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63 percent in October and is tied for 27th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Oregon Payroll Employment

• Oregon added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Oregon added 900 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Oregon added 500 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Oregon ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during October were Education and Health Services (2,700) and Government (1,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,200) and Professional and Business Services (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (21,100) and Government (7,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800) and Construction (-5,100).

Oregon Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Oregon remained unchanged at 63 percent in October.

• Oregon is tied for 27th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent occurring in October 2024, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in October.