PORTLAND, Ore. — The unemployment rate in the Portland metro area dropped to 11.0% in July.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) said Tuesday that about 147,000 area residents were jobless.
July’s unemployment rate dropped 0.6% from June, when 11.6% of workers were unemployed. The metro area gained 12,100 jobs, following a gain of 34,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in June.
The largest job gain in July was in the professional and business services sector, where employers added 5,100 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector posted the second largest gain with 4,300 jobs, the OED said.
Retail trade added 2,900 jobs.
In the last three months, Portland-area employers have added back 55,200 jobs, which is over a third of the jobs lost during March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The employment department said five sectors have regained more than 50% of their lost jobs:
- Leisure and hospitality, the hardest-hit industry as measured by job losses, has regained 52% of the March and April losses (+34,900 jobs).
- “Other services”, including hair and nail salons, gyms, and other personal care businesses, has also regained 52% of lost jobs (+4,400 jobs).
- Retailers have brought back 57% of lost jobs. Grocery and general merchandise stores are 1,200 jobs above March levels, while clothing stores, auto dealerships, and other retailers are thousands below.
- Professional and business services regained 61% of lost jobs, driven in large part by temporary workers (+7,300 jobs).
- Construction is back to March levels.
The national unemployment rate was 10.2% in July.
