A closed sign in Macy’s at Salem Center. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)
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Unemployment for the Salem area increased to 13.3% in April, a sizable jump from last month’s 4.1%.
The numbers, released Wednesday by the state Employment Department, are the latest measure of the economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate for the Salem area follows the sharp rise in unemployment at the state and national levels. Oregon’s unemployment rate for April was 14.8%. Nationally, that number is 14.7%.
While all industries in the private sector saw losses in April, leisure and hospitality in the Salem area took the biggest hit. The industry, particularly hard-hit by the pandemic, lost 6,700 positions — half of its positions in one month.
Professional and business services lost 2,900 jobs, a 15% loss. Health care and social assistance shed 2,900 jobs, nearly an 11% cut.
According to a department press release, the Salem area was expected to see an increase of 600 jobs. But instead, the number of nonfarm jobs decreased from 172,200 in March to 148,900 in April, a loss of 23,300 jobs.
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
