Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Adds 6,900 Jobs – KXL

SALEM, OR – In August, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 6,900 jobs, following a revised gain of 100 jobs in July, according to data from the Oregon Employment Department.

August gains were largest in health care and social assistance, adding 2,500 jobs; leisure and hospitality, up 1,500; government jobs increased by 1,100; and other services rose by 1,000 jobs.  Losses were largest in wholesale trade which was down by 1,100 jobs.

Health care and social assistance continued a rapid expansion by adding 11,600 jobs.  That is an increase of 3.8 % during the past 12 months.  Nursing and residential care facilities added 400 jobs in August and, since August 2024, that sector has by 3,900 jobs or 6.8%.  Hospitals, which added no jobs in August, grew the second fastest among companies in the health care industry over the past 12 months by adding 2,900 jobs, an increase of 4.6%. Social assistance added 2,400 jobs, a 3% increase, and ambulatory health care services added 2,300 jobs, up 2.2%.  Both sectors experienced slower growth year over the year.

Leisure and hospitality grew 2.0% in the past 12 months, gaining 4,100 jobs, following little change the prior two years.  Since last August, most of its related industries added between 2% and 4%.  Amusement, gambling, and recreation grew the fastest, adding 1,500 jobs, for an increase of 6.7%.  In contrast, full-service restaurants cut 1,200 jobs, down by 1.8%.

Wholesale trade declined rapidly by 4,300 jobs in the past 12 months, a decrease of 5.5%. All three wholesale industries shrank considerably during that period.  Merchant wholesalers dealing in nondurable goods lost 1,500 jobs, for a los of 4.9%; merchant wholesalers dealing in durable goods saw a decrease of 1,000 jobs, down 2.5%; and employment among wholesale trade agents and brokers was down 13% due to the loss of 900 jobs.