Uncategorized

Salem area unemployment rate remains essentially unchanged

Construction workers with Mike Riddle Construction build a home in Salem. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

The unemployment rate for the Salem area was 5.9% for April remaining essentially unchanged from the 5.8% rate from March. 

The local unemployment rate again hovered just below the statewide rate of 6% for April, unchanged from the previous month. 

According to Oregon Employment Department numbers, the Salem area added 1,200 jobs in April. Unlike previous employment reports, the area’s leisure and hospitality industry, which has been steadily recovering from the pandemic, did not see the largest increases in employment. 

Private-sector industries that saw the largest jobs gains were professional and business services, as well as construction. Each industry saw gains of more than 400 jobs. State government added 100 jobs and local government 200 jobs. Manufacturing shed 200 jobs. 

There are still 7,500 fewer jobs in the Salem area than in February of 2020.

-Jake Thomas