Oregon's unemployment rate went up again in October to 4.1%, the highest since the 4.2% recorded in January, despite 5,800 jobs added in the private sector.

The net increase in nonfarm payroll jobs for October was 5,200, up from a net loss of 500 in September, when the statewide unemployment rate was 3.8%.

The national average for October was 3.7%, up from 3.5% from September.

"Despite the upturn in unemployment, it's really low by historical standards," Gail Krumenauer, economist for the Oregon Employment Department, said in a short video message with the announcement on Wednesday, Nov. 16. "After a pause with a small job loss in September, we saw things bounce back in Oregon in October."

Records go back to 1976 — and Oregon's most recent low was 3.4% during the four months from November 2019 through February 2020. (Some records predate 1976, but are not comparable with current data.)

Sectors that gained jobs in October were:

• Financial activities, 2,500, mostly in real estate and rentals/leasing.

• Private health care and social assistance, 1,100.

• Manufacturing, 1,100.

• Leisure and hospitality (restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment), 800.

• Construction, 700.

Sectors that lost jobs during the month were retail trade, 700, and government, 600.

Retail trade accounted for a statewide total of 208,500 for the first 10 months of this year, a drop of 2,900. General merchandise stores, which make up the bulk of jobs in this sector, lost 2,300 jobs overall; motor vehicle and automobile parts stores, 900, and building materials and garden supplies, 800.

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