Total payroll employment in Josephine County was little changed in October, with some private-sector industries losing jobs and others gaining workers.
According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,206 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.6%, which was slightly higher than the 5.5% rate posted in September.
Private-sector industries losing jobs over the month were leisure & hospitality and construction. Private education and health services gained 60 jobs over the month. Government employment gained 40 jobs with an increase of 70 jobs in local government education slightly offset by losses in federal and state government.
Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County climbed by 50 jobs, an increase of 0.2%.
Industries adding jobs since October 2023 included private education & health services (+530), transportation, warehousing & utilities (+40), leisure & hospitality (+40) and financial activities (+30). Industries with estimated job losses over the year were professional & business services (-150), manufacturing (-180), construction (-60) and information (-20).
Government employment fell by 200 jobs over the year, mostly due to a decline of 190 jobs in local government education.
