LANE COUNTY, Ore. — Unemployment in the state is steadily ticking up, topping the national average, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
It has put the job market in a frozen state, with few vacancies for a growing number of unemployed, the department said.
“In Lane County, the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in July, and that’s up from 4.2 percent a year ago in July 2024. So, we’ve seen this slow upward drift in unemployment over the past year both in Lane County and statewide,” OED Regional Labor Economist Brian Rooney said. “Most industries are either flat or down over the past year.”…