Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate finally dipped below 5 percent in May — inching down to 4.9 percent, according to the Oregon Employment Department. The county’s unemployment rate was 5 percent in April and 7.3 percent in May 2021.
The county’s rate is still much higher than the Oregon and national unemployment rates in May, which were 3.6 percent.
Lincoln County’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in March and February, down slightly from January’s rate of 5.3 percent. Lincoln County’s jobless rate was 5.5 percent in December, 5.7 percent in November and 6.1 percent in October.
Regional economist Erik Knoder said the county’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased by 50 in May to 17,730 jobs. Seasonally adjusted figures compare expected changes with actual changes. A gain of 260 jobs was expected for the month, Knoder said, but the county’s total nonfarm employment rose by 310.
The county’s private sector added 230 jobs and the government employment climbed up by 80 in May. The leisure and hospitality sector added 120 jobs, Knoder said, and food manufacturing grew by 80 jobs.
May’s total nonfarm employment numbers show a gain of 220 jobs compared with one year before, an increase of 1.3 percent. The county lost 4,880 jobs in April 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hit, Knoder said, and it remains 1,120 jobs below its pre-pandemic employment of May 2019.