Counties with the highest unemployment in Oregon
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Oregon using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Oregon.
#25. Yamhill County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 57,066 people (2,075 unemployed)
#24. Deschutes County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 107,240 people (3,871 unemployed)
#23. Washington County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 337,113 people (12,303 unemployed)
#22. Clatsop County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,308 people (760 unemployed)
#21. Clackamas County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 227,508 people (8,503 unemployed)
#20. Polk County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,449 people (1,705 unemployed)
#19. Lake County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,558 people (137 unemployed)
#18. Marion County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 176,402 people (6,813 unemployed)
#17. Multnomah County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 469,890 people (18,425 unemployed)
#16. Wasco County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,005 people (516 unemployed)
#15. Jefferson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,505 people (427 unemployed)
#14. Union County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,269 people (505 unemployed)
#13. Lane County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 186,005 people (7,578 unemployed)
#12. Jackson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 108,281 people (4,503 unemployed)
#11. Linn County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 62,026 people (2,682 unemployed)
#10. Grant County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,126 people (141 unemployed)
#9. Lincoln County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,257 people (954 unemployed)
#8. Coos County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,014 people (1,203 unemployed)
#7. Gilliam County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 963 people (44 unemployed)
#6. Curry County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,967 people (408 unemployed)
#5. Columbia County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,201 people (1,156 unemployed)
#4. Crook County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,480 people (542 unemployed)
#3. Klamath County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,841 people (1,436 unemployed)
#2. Douglas County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 47,814 people (2,224 unemployed)
#1. Josephine County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,041 people (1,835 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
