The federal government shutdown is beginning to have a ripple effect on the employment market, and the indications are grim for Oregon.

Unemployment in the state has been steadily increasing throughout the year, but the October shutdown has kick-started a spiraling jobless curve.

Oregon Now Has a 5% Unemployment Rate

Oregon recorded a 5% unemployment rate in August, and while the government shutdown has affected the collection of unemployment data nationwide, some information is filtering through.

Indications are that there were almost 190,000 unemployment claims in the state through mid-October. This represents 14,000 more claims by jobless Oregonians compared to the same period last year.

Unemployment in the state has been steadily climbing throughout the year, but since June, claim

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