PORTLAND, Ore. – The unemployment rate in the Portland metropolitan area rose slightly to 4.6% in July, up from 4.5% in June and 4.0% a year ago.
The Oregon Employment Department reports roughly 71,100 Portland-area residents were unemployed in July — an increase of 10,300 from the same time last year. The statewide unemployment rate stood at 5.0%, while the national rate was 4.2%.
The region’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment fell by 5,600 jobs in July, following a loss of 2,800 in June. Over the past year, payroll employment in the Portland area has dropped by 24,800 jobs, or 2.0%, with declines recorded in seven of the past 10 months…