Unemployment rates in Central Oregon showed minimal changes in November, with Crook County experiencing a slight increase and Jefferson County seeing a small decrease. The data is courtesy of the Oregon Employment Department.

In Crook County, the unemployment rate increased to 5.7% in November coinciding with a loss of 90 jobs, mostly in the public sector. Despite the increase, the unemployment rate is just above the pre-pandemic low of 4.5%. Losses in the construction sector were partially offset by growth in the retail and health service sectors.

In Deschutes County, the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6% since November. The county saw a modest job increase of 170 in November, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since February 2020, Deschutes County has added 7,800 jobs, primarily due to expansion in the hospitality and health services sectors. Deschutes County added over 300 retail jobs in one month alone.

Jefferson County saw a slight decrease in the unemployment rate, dropping to 4.4% in November from 4.5% in October. Unlike Deschutes County, Jefferson County lost 30 jobs in the hospitality sector. Over the past year, Jefferson County saw a job increase of 390, primarily in the public sector and health services industry.