Oregon unemployment rate holds at 5.0% in September as payrolls rise 5,800 jobs - KCBY

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s unemployment rate held steady in September, even as payrolls posted their strongest monthly gain in more than a year, the Oregon Employment Department reported Wednesday. The state’s unemployment rate was 5.0% in September, little changed from 5.1% in August. Oregon’s jobless rate has stayed in a narrow range between 5.0% and 5.3% for the past 19 months, dating back to March 2025 when it was 5.0%. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in September, up from 4.1% in August. Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,800 jobs in September, following a revised gain of 2,600 jobs in August.