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Salem area unemployment rate remains virtually unchanged

A construction crew works on the Salem Public Library on March 24, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) 

The jobless rate for the Salem area barely budged last month.

In March, the unemployment rate for the Salem area was 5.8%, down slightly from February’s 5.9%. The rate for the Salem area tracks with the rest of the state, which saw the unemployment rate decrease at 6% from 6.1%.

In the Salem area, the hard-hit leisure and hospitality industry added 1,900 jobs, construction added 400. State and local government together added 500 jobs. 

Retail trade saw a loss of 300 jobs, manufacturing 200 jobs and business services 200 jobs. 

-Jake Thomas