December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Oregon Employment Snapshot

• In December, Oregon lost 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 3,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 17,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Oregon is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Oregon’s private sector lost 4,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Oregon fell by 548, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,105.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63 percent in December and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Oregon Payroll Employment

• Oregon lost 3,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oregon added 3,700 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Oregon is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon lost 4,400 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,900 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Oregon is tied for 40th 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 December were Education and Health Services (2,200) and Government (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (21,300) and Government (7,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-3,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-4,400).

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 December.

• Oregon is tied for 26th in the nation.

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

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.