A hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Illinois. Across the three counties of Central Oregon, the unemployment rate for December remained relatively unchanged from November, according to a monthly report by the Oregon Employment Department. In Deschutes County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6% in December, the same as it was in November. The county gained 500 jobs in December, bringing the total non-farm employment to 96,950 jobs. Job growth was noted in the leisure and hospitality, and private education and health services sectors.

Similarly, Jefferson County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady in December at 4.4%. However, the county lost 80 non-farm jobs over this period, with the leisure and hospitality sectors most affected.

In Crook County, the unemployment rate also saw little change in December, remaining at 5.7%. In comparison to the same period the previous year, this was a drop from 6.2%. The county lost 110 jobs in December, primarily in the public sector and the leisure and hospitality sectors.

These unemployment rates are based on estimates and may be revised. The department plans to release a year in review report in March.