A graph from the Oregon Employment Department shows which counties have shed jobs as their share of the labor force. The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected the restaurant and hospitality industry. The graph shows that coastal counties including Lincoln and Clatsop that rely on this industry have been particularly hard hit. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department)
The pace of people seeking unemployment benefits continues to ease in Marion and Polk counties.
The Oregon Employment Department reported Thursday that 1,992 people in Marion County filed claims for unemployment benefits for the week of April 19. That’s a drop from the 2,186 the week of April 12. That follows a trend that began the week of April 5, when Marion County claims decreased to 3,062 from 3,657 the week before.
In total 15,232 claims have been filed from Marion County since March 15, when state orders began shuttering parts of the economy to slow the spread of the virus.
In Polk County, 449 people filed claims for unemployment last week. That also shows a downward trend from 553 the previous week and the 762 and 858 from preceding weeks.
In total, 3,524 people from Polk County have filed for unemployment benefits since March 15.
The trends locally follow the rest of the state. Last week, the Employment Department saw 28,500 initial claims, down from 36,700 the week before. That’s a continuous decrease from the 53,800 claims filed the preceding week and 78,100 the week before.
According to a press release, the department has now processed three out of every four initial claims filed between March 15 and April 25 as it continues to step up its processing capacity.
The department has issued a report detailing who has been most affected. Not surprisingly, food service and accommodations have shed the most jobs as restaurants and bars were the first to be closed in response to the pandemic.
A surprising number of people from construction, manufacturing and health care have also lost their jobs, according to the report. While these industries may seem to be insulated from the state restrictions, the report explained that many hospitals and other medical facilities lost workers after they had to suspend elective procedures.
The report also noted that workers with low-paying jobs, those with only a high school diploma or less and people between 25 and 34, were particularly hit hard.
Earlier this week, federal data reveal what many already knew: the economy had shrunk by nearly 5% in the first quarter.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story contained a graphic caption with an incorrect description.
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
