December unemployed at 6.4% for Klamath County; 6% Lake County
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The following is a press release from the State of Oregon Employment Department.
SALEM, Ore. - Hiring patterns in December were largely consistent with seasonal norms for the month in both Klamath and Lake counties. Unemployment levels increased in both counties.
Klamath County
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4% in December, up from a revised 6.1% in November. The unemployment rate is slightly above levels from before the first impacts of COVID19 when it was 5.8% in February 2020. Klamath County shed 350 jobs in December, slightly larger job losses than are typical this time of year. Employment levels in Klamath County remain down 0.1% (-30 jobs) from levels in February 2020 before the onset of the pandemic.
Klamath County added 270 jobs in the past year (+1.2%). Job gains continue to be widespread with notable gains over the past year in private education and health services (+220 jobs), construction (+80), and leisure and hospitality (+50). In the public sector, local government is up 80 jobs. Total nonfarm employment growth was moderated by losses in professional and business services (-90 jobs) and manufacturing (-20).
Lake County
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0% in December, up from its revised rate of 5.6% in November. The rate was 3.8% in February 2020, before the impacts of COVID-19 were first felt.
Lake County lost 60 jobs in December, slightly larger losses than are typical this time of year. As of December 2022, total nonfarm employment levels remain down 120 jobs (-5.0%) from levels before the onset of the pandemic in February 2020.
Lake County’s total nonfarm employment is down by 10 jobs (-0.4%) from last year. The only notable gains were in retail trade and federal and state government which each added 10 jobs. The notable job loss was a decrease of 10 jobs in construction.
