SALEM — Oregon’s labor market remained largely stable heading into the second half of 2026, with little change in both job vacancy numbers and the statewide unemployment rate, according to the latest reports from the Oregon Employment Department.
Oregon private employers reported 45,400 job openings in the second quarter of 2026 – holding virtually flat compared to the 45,300 openings reported in the first quarter. While vacancies were down 11% compared to spring 2025, they have now fully normalized to pre-pandemic levels following post-Covid peaks near 100,000, aligning closely with figures seen in spring 2018 and ’19.
In April, Oregon had approximately 103,600 unemployed residents, resulting in a ratio of two job seekers per available opening. Key characteristics of current vacancies include:
- Hiring difficulty: Employers noted that 61% of open positions were difficult to fill.
- Compensation and demands: Most openings were for full-time, permanent roles with an average starting wage of $26.77 per hour. Education beyond high school was required for 34% of positions, while 61% required prior work experience.
- Geographic concentration: The Portland Tri-County area (Portland Metro and Clackamas County) accounted for 36% of all statewide openings, with significant activity also reported in the Mid-Valley and East Cascades regions.
Payrolls see slight dip
Oregon’s unemployment rate stood at 5.2% in June, holding steady from May and matching the 5.2% rate from June 2025. By comparison, the U.S. national unemployment rate was 4.2% in June.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Oregon nonfarm payrolls lost a net 600 jobs in June, following a revised gain of 2,500 jobs in May. Over the past 12 months (June 2025 to June 2026), total nonfarm payroll employment contracted by 8,500 jobs (-0.4%):
- Private sector employment fell by 5,400 jobs (-0.3%).
- Government employment fell by 3,100 jobs (-1.0%).
Across both job vacancies and payroll gains, a sharp contrast persists between Oregon’s health care and manufacturing sectors: - Private health care and social assistance accounted for nearly 25% of all private job vacancies in Q2.
- Manufacturing : saw the steepest payroll declines, losing 1,700 jobs in June. Over the past year, manufacturers dropped 10,000 jobs.
