Bend, oregon unemployment rate

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bend fell 0.2 percentage points in August 2021 to 5.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Bend peaked in April 2020 at 16.2% and is now 10.8 percentage points lower. You can also compare Bend unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate: Bend, Oregon, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bend, Oregon Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bend peaked in April 2020 at 15,196. There are now 9,782 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Bend employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bend, Oregon) is also available.

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bend, Oregon Unemployment History

Department of Numbers

The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics  

Release:Unemployment in States and Local Areas (all other areas)  

Units:  Percent, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:  Monthly

Notes:

These data come from the Current Population Survey (CPS), also known as the household survey.

Civilian Labor Force includes all persons in the civilian noninstitutional population ages 16 and older classified as either employed or unemployed.

Employed persons are all persons who, during the reference week (the week including the 12th day of the month), (a) did any work as paid employees, worked in their own business or profession or on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in an enterprise operated by a member of their family, or (b) were not working but who had jobs from which they were temporarily absent because of vacation, illness, bad weather, childcare problems, maternity or paternity leave, labor-management dispute, job training, or other family or personal reasons, whether or not they were paid for the time off or were seeking other jobs. Each employed person is counted only once, even if he or she holds more than one job.

Unemployed persons are all persons who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment some time during the 4 week-period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed.

The unemployment rate is the unemployed percent of the civilian labor force [100 times (unemployed/civilian labor force)].

For more details, see the release's frequently asked questions.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon’s employment situation improved in August, with hiring exceeding normal seasonal expectation by a modest amount, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday.

"There was more robust improvement to the unemployment rate, with all three counties posting a statistically significant decline from July," Regional Economist Damon Runberg said

Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8% in August, down significantly from 7.1% in July. The unemployment rate remains higher than before the first impacts from COVID-19 in February 2020, when it was 4.4%.

Crook County added 70 jobs in August, stronger job gains than what is typical for this time of year. Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment in August was roughly 1.9% (+130 jobs) above the pre-COVID peak in February 2020.

The strong monthly hiring in August was concentrated in local government (+30 jobs). No major industry sector added more than 10 jobs in August. The fastest-growing industry over the past year was in construction, where employment grew by 16.0% from last August. There was also fast growth from this time last year in manufacturing (+11.5%) and professional and business services (+10.7%).

Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.4% in August from 5.6% in July. The unemployment rate remains higher than before the first impacts from COVID-19 in February, 2020 when it was 3.3%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that Deschutes County lost 270 jobs in August, fairly typical losses for this time of year. According to these estimates, total nonfarm employment remains down by 3,850 jobs from the pre-COVID peak (-4.3%). However, it is important to note that employment levels were only around 2.6% below the pre-COVID peak in March 2021 (our most recent benchmarked month). Revisions to recent Bend-Redmond MSA data will be released later this fall.

Employment gains over the last year are widespread, with significant gains in financial activities, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, and local government. However, these estimates show a decline in employment for professional and business services and leisure and hospitality over the past year. Both those losses, particularly losses in leisure and hospitality, are questionable, as the industry has posted record hiring demand this summer.

Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.3% in August, down from 6.8% in July. The unemployment rate remains higher than before the first impacts from COVID-19 in February 2020, when it was 4.1%.

Total nonfarm employment was unchanged in August. There are typically modest job losses this time of year. As of August employment levels remain down only 2.2% (-150 jobs) from the pre-COVID peak in February 2020.

Construction has been the fastest growing major industry sector over the past year, adding 40 jobs (+28.6%). The retail sector (+70 jobs) and manufacturing (+90 jobs) also posted strong gains from this time last year.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for September on Tuesday, Oct. 19.