January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In January, Oregon added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost 18,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Oregon’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 17,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Oregon fell by 2,899, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,238.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.9 percent in January from 63 percent and ranks 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon added 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Oregon added 100 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Oregon lost 500 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,500) and Professional and Business Services (-1,300).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-7,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,600).

Oregon

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Oregon fell to 62.9 percent in January from 63 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon ranks 25th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent occurring in July 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.