Economy in Central Oregon
By Nicole Ramos | Regional Economist, East Cascades | Oregon Employment Department
In Central Oregon, total nonfarm payroll employment was up by 2,720 jobs year-over-year, with most employment gains taking place in Deschutes County (+2,210 jobs), followed by Jefferson County (+260 jobs), and Crook County (+250 jobs).
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Oregon continued to decline in March to 4.4%. The U.S.’s unemployment rate also declined during the month of March to 3.5%. Similarly, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell throughout Central Oregon. Crook County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.9%, down from 6.2% in February, whereas Deschutes County had the smallest unemployment rate at 4.4%, down from 4.7% in February. Jefferson County’s unemployment rate is 5.5%.
Topic of the Month: The Highest and Lowest Paid Occupation Groups in 2022
This month, we look at the highest and lowest-paid occupation groups, by median hourly wage. In 2022, the top five highest-paid occupation groups in Central Oregon tended towards white-collar occupations, while those paying the least tended to be blue-collar occupations. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations had the highest median hourly wage at $49.15, while food preparation and serving-related occupations had the lowest median hourly wage at $15.01—a difference of $34.14 per hour. Management occupations had the second highest median hourly wage at $39.97 per hour. However, occupations within occupation groups are not created equal. For instance, managers associated with low-paying social and service-related occupations get paid less compared to managers associated with high-paying white-collar occupations. In terms of median hourly wage, lodging managers ($23.31), food service managers ($23.85), education administrators ($25.76), and social and community service managers ($29.58) were among the lowest paid. Comparatively, white-collar managers such as chief executives ($99.38), architectural and engineering managers ($62.25), and computer and information systems managers ($62.16) were among the highest paid. For more wage information on managers and other occupations and occupation groups in Central Oregon, you can download the wage file here.
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Oregon’s Commercial Fishing in 2022 by Erik KNODER
Where Oregon Metro Areas Rank in Unemployment by Luke COURY
Winter 2023 Hiring Among Oregon’s Private Employers by Jessica Nelson
New and Emerging Jobs in Oregon: The Latest Trends by Sarah Cunningham
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Oregon’s Wood Product Manufacturing Industry Is Still Important, Esp. in Rural Areas by Brian Rooney
It Takes Two (or More): Oregon’s Multiple Jobholders in 2022 by Anna Johnson
Difficult to Fill Job Openings in 2022 by Jessica Nelson
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