Counties with the highest unemployment in Oregon

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Oregon, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Oregon.

#36. Wheeler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 846 people (23 unemployed)

#35. Benton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 51,374 people (1,553 unemployed)

#34. Malheur County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 13,307 people (420 unemployed)

#33. Hood River County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,405 people (423 unemployed)

#32. Morrow County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,053 people (200 unemployed)

#31. Yamhill County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 56,376 people (1,976 unemployed)

#30. Washington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 337,188 people (11,821 unemployed)

#29. Sherman County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 972 people (35 unemployed)

#28. Umatilla County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,479 people (1,396 unemployed)

#27. Clackamas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 227,407 people (8,151 unemployed)

#26. Harney County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,607 people (133 unemployed)

#25. Baker County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 7,158 people (266 unemployed)

#24. Tillamook County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,071 people (443 unemployed)

#23. Polk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,027 people (1,644 unemployed)

#22. Deschutes County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 106,435 people (3,923 unemployed)

#21. Wallowa County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,514 people (135 unemployed)

#20. Clatsop County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,962 people (750 unemployed)

#19. Marion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 174,785 people (6,557 unemployed)

#18. Multnomah County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 469,833 people (17,967 unemployed)

#17. Lane County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 186,703 people (7,249 unemployed)

#16. Wasco County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,761 people (511 unemployed)

#15. Gilliam County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 959 people (39 unemployed)

#14. Lake County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,504 people (143 unemployed)

#13. Jefferson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 10,426 people (428 unemployed)

#12. Union County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,146 people (501 unemployed)

#11. Linn County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 61,993 people (2,564 unemployed)

#10. Jackson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 106,625 people (4,436 unemployed)

#9. Lincoln County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,915 people (927 unemployed)

#8. Coos County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,864 people (1,205 unemployed)

#7. Columbia County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,253 people (1,161 unemployed)

#6. Douglas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 47,466 people (2,200 unemployed)

#5. Curry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,758 people (410 unemployed)

#4. Crook County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,275 people (551 unemployed)

#3. Klamath County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,031 people (1,482 unemployed)

#2. Josephine County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,697 people (1,798 unemployed)

#1. Grant County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,065 people (159 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.