SALEM, OR -- The hiring frenzy continues, with statewide unemployment holding near record lows. "Oregon’s unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.6% in June and it was the same as the U.S. rate," State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said Wednesday. Oregon’s jobless rate has been below 4% for the past four months. The record low for the state is 3.4%, set just before the onset of the pandemic. 

"Oregon employers added 8,700 jobs to nonfarm payrolls in June," said Krumenauer, "Many sectors had large job gains in June. Construction added 2,800 jobs over the month." Healthcare and Leisure & Hospitality also saw gains. "No broad sector of Oregon’s economy had large job losses in June.

As of June, the state has regained 94% of the jobs lost when the pandemic began, slightly below the U.S. average of 98%.