In December, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates continued to remain steady across Central Oregon, as per the report by the Oregon Employment Department. Additional clarification on the job situation in 2023 will be available after the annual revision of benchmarks in spring. In December, Crook County had an unemployment rate of 5.7%, with job losses mainly in the public sector and leisure and hospitality. However, employment levels were 7.3% above pre-pandemic levels.

In Deschutes County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.6%, similar to November’s figure. The county gained approximately 500 jobs in December, with total nonfarm employment reaching 96,950. Over the course of 2022, the employment expanded by 5.9%.

In Jefferson County, the unemployment rate in December was stable at 4.4%. The county lost 80 jobs in December, but the overall nonfarm employment is 1.0% above the pre-pandemic levels and has increased by 300 over the past year. The Oregon Employment Department plans to release more updates, including January county metropolitan area unemployment rates, on Tuesday, March 5.