The State of Oregon Employment Department has released data on unemployment and job gains for the tri-county region.
Overall, the data for the area looks positive but is only partially making up for losses in 2020 and 2021.
According to the data, Wheeler County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state, with just 2.8% of eligible workers categorized as unemployed by the state.
Over the year Wheeler County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 1.6%. Nonfarm employment totaled 295 jobs in October, with private industry and government each cutting five jobs. Over the year ending in October, private industry rose by five jobs to reach 165 and government held steady at 130.
Gilliam County saw the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fall by 0.4% in October, ranking 12th out of 36 Oregon counties. Over the year, Gilliam County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.9%. Gilliam County’s nonfarm employment held steady in October with 825 jobs.
In 2021, Gilliam County’s private industry total fell by 115 jobs to total 585, a loss of 16.4%. Government rose by 10 jobs over the year, climbing to 240.
Sherman County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point in October to 4.0%, good enough to rank fifth in Oregon, narrowly trailing Malheur (3.9%).
Over the year, Sherman County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 1.6 percentage points. Sherman County’s nonfarm
employment fell by 25 jobs in October, dropping to 895. Private industry cut 10 jobs, falling to 580, while government idled 15, dropping to 315. Over the year ending in October, private industry cut five
jobs and government held steady.