State Unemployment Rate Remains at 5.5 Percent in April

Two industries that reported large gains during April were leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.

Art Ayre with the state Employment Division at Monday's press conference Photo Courtesy: State of Oregon

(PORTLAND) - Oregon`s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 5.5 percent. The rate, which has declined steadily during the past two years, was well below the year-ago reading of 6.3 percent.

Last month`s national rate remained unchanged 4.7 percent in April. This brought the U.S. rate to its lowest level since July 2001, when it was 4.6 percent.

Oregon added 9,800 jobs to its non-farm payroll employment in April. The growth was typical for the time of year. Most industries grew in accordance with their respective seasonal patterns.

The state`s seasonally adjusted non-farm payroll employment was essentially unchanged in April, after a revised gain of 6,700 jobs in March.

Industry Payroll Employment

• Construction added 1,300 jobs in April as it embarked on its springtime up-trend. This followed a gain of 1,600 jobs in March. April`s employment level exceeded the industry`s year-ago total by 10,500 jobs or 12 percent. Construction has enjoyed amazing growth over the past few years, adding an annual average of 8,000 jobs since April 2003.

In April, most construction jobs were created among specialty trade contractors, who saw their ranks grow by 1,800 jobs. Residential building construction gained 300 jobs and nonresidential building construction reported no change in April. Heavy and civil engineering reported a decline of 700 jobs.

• Educational and health services shed 400 jobs in April “ a month that typically brings 400 jobs. Educational services, which lost 500 jobs, caused of the decline. Health care and social assistance employment was essentially unchanged. Educational and health services has grown by 10,300 jobs, or five percent, since April 2005.

• Financial activities experienced typical growth in April with a gain of 500 jobs. The industry added 5,400 jobs over the prior 12 months. Real estate, rental, and leasing added 500 jobs, while finance and insurance employment activity was flat in April.

• Leisure and hospitality added 3,800 jobs “ 600 above typical gains. In the past 12 months, it has added 7,000 jobs. In April, accommodation and food services added 3,800 jobs, thanks to a 2,800-job gain in food services and drinking places. Arts, entertainment, and recreation reported no change from March.

• Trade, transportation, and utilities gained 1,500 jobs, which was 200 jobs above typical growth for April. Wholesale trade cut 200 jobs, while retail trade added 1,400. Building material and garden supply stores (+1,000) and motor vehicle and parts dealers (+400) led growth in retail trade. Among other retail establishments, general merchandise stores lost 200 jobs and the remainder were essentially unchanged.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities added 300 jobs in April. This group`s total employment fell by 500 jobs since April 2005.

Unemployment

Oregon`s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in April. Since January 2006, the rate has ranged from 5.3 to 5.6 percent. The April rate was down substantially from the year-ago figure of 6.3 percent. In April, 105,508 Oregonians were unemployed, compared with 119,157 one year earlier