Central Oregon Economic Indicators June 2023

Economy in Central Oregon

By Nicole Ramos | Regional Economist, East Cascades | Oregon Employment Department

Over the last 12 months ending in June, Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment grew 2.3%, adding 45,100 jobs. In Central Oregon, total nonfarm payroll employment was up by 2,340 year-over-year, with most employment gains taking place in Deschutes County (1,990). However, Jefferson County saw a larger percentage increase (+2.4%) with the addition of 160 jobs. In other words, although Deschutes County added more jobs than Jefferson County, the change in employment represented a larger positive movement for Jefferson County than it did for Deschutes County (+2.2%). Crook County also saw total nonfarm payroll employment go up by 120 jobs over the year, or by 1.6%.

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has declined five months in a row and, as of June, was 3.5%, slightly lower than the nation’s unemployment rate of 3.6%. In Central Oregon, all three counties saw the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decline from May to June. As of June, Deschutes County has the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 3.8%, followed by Jefferson County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6%. Crook County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in June.

Topic of the Month: Workers Claiming Unemployment Benefits, June 2022 – June 2023

Continued claims reflect the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. A continued UI claimant is a person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment, then files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. For more information on continued claims in Central Oregon, check out this week’s monthly graph.