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Oregon Unemployment Hits New Record Low

SALEM, OR -- More Oregonians found work in February, dropping the number of unemployed to 82,000 and sinking the state jobless rate to a new historic low. "Oregon’s unemployment rate fell to 4% - that’s 4%, even. That’s down from 4.3% the month before," says state employment economist Nick Beleiciks. "February’s rate of 4% is the lowest on record, going back to 1976."

 

Of the 8,200 non-farm positions added, 4,400 were in Government. Healthcare and Social Assistance shot up by 2,400, while manufacturing and construction also continued strong gains. 
 
Beleiciks says the state's current rate is significantly lower than the 4.7% national rate, "Oregon has been adding jobs at a faster rate than the nation since 2013." Governor Kate Brown issued a statement applauding the numbers, but said the Republican proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will erase those gains, costing 23,000 healthcare jobs. 

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