Lincoln County’s jobless rate drops below 7 percent, but remains higher than statewide average

Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to below 7 percent in August for the first time in more than 20 months, but still remains substantially below Oregon’s overall rate.

The Oregon Employment Department announced Tuesday that the county’s jobless rate was 6.9 percent in August, down slightly from 7.2 percent in July. The unemployment rate a year ago was 11 percent.

Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in August and the national rate 5.2 percent.

The agency’s regional economist, Erik Knoder, said the private sector added 160 jobs in August while government employment fell by 140. The leisure and hospitality sector and retail trade each added 30 jobs, Knoder reported, while private education and health services also added 30 jobs. Local government education cut 120 jobs over the summer break.

August’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 960 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 5.5 percent, he said. The county lost 4,360 jobs in April 2020 as the pandemic hit, and it remains 1,080 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of August 2019. Almost every major industry has added jobs over the past year. Leisure and hospitality recovered 510 jobs from the year before, Knoder said, while retail trade regained 130 jobs, and professional and business services added back 100 jobs.