How many jobs were lost in Oregon last month?

Updated May. 19, 2026Refreshed monthly

Oregon lost 4,800 jobs in March 2026, ranking it last among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 1,800 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.

-4.8K

month to month change in number of jobs (March 2026)

50th

rank among states in monthly job growth (March 2026)

March 2026's loss of 4,800 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in Oregon. Monthly job growth was up from the 6,900 lost jobs in February 2026.

During the latest five year period (April 2021 to March 2026), Oregon gained jobs in 34 out of 60 months. March 2026 had the seventh-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+29,500) while job growth was weakest in January 2024 (-11,400).

There were 4,800 fewer jobs in March 2026 in Oregon than the previous month.

Monthly change in nonfarm employment, April 2021–March 2026, seasonally adjusted

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Which Oregon sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in March 2026?

The supersector with the highest job growth in March 2026 was retail trade. Retail trade added 900 jobs, more than the entire economy. The remaining supersectors either posted job loss or no job change during the month.

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The health care and social assistance sector lost 100 jobs during March 2026.

Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Oregon (March 2026)

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How does Oregon's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?

In 2025, the state has lost an average of 1,900 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 525, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2006.

When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 6,600 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 5,000 on average every month in 2015.

In 2025, Oregon lost an average of 1,900 jobs every month.

Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted

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Job growth among eight metro areas primarily in Oregon during March 2026 ranged from a loss of 4,400 jobs in the Portland, OR area to a gain of 100 jobs in the Corvallis, OR area metro area.

Monthly job growth, by metro area

Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Oregon

Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro area	Change in jobs
1.	Bend, OR area	+100
2.	Corvallis, OR area	+100
3.	Grants Pass, OR area	+100
4.	Salem, OR area	+0
5.	Medford, OR area	+0
6.	Eugene, OR area	-100
7.	Albany, OR area	-200
8.	Portland, OR area	-4,400

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics