(Graph courtesy of Oregon Employment Department)

Central Oregon’s labor market is currently navigating a delicate balance between growth and emerging caution signals. While the region’s unemployment rate is trending upward, it remains lower than the state average and historically low overall.

“The Central Oregon unemployment rate is trending upward, similar to Oregon overall — but to a lesser degree,” said Nicole Ramos, regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department (OED).

Ramos emphasized that although the region is not immune to statewide economic shifts, “Central Oregon is performing slightly better” compared to Oregon as a whole. According to OED data, Oregon’s unemployment rate hit 4.9% in June, up from 4.8% in May 2025, extending a gradual upward trend over the past year

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