Total payroll employment in Josephine County was little changed in February.
According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,440 people working in Josephine County in February for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 7.3%, which was down slightly from 7.4% in the first month of 2025.
Industries losing jobs in February were private education & health services and financial activities. Both manufacturing and professional & business services added 20 jobs over the month. Other industries showed little change.
Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County declined slightly, down by 100 jobs -- a loss of .04%.
Industries adding jobs since February 2024 included leisure & hospitality (+260), transportation, warehousing & utilities (+60) and other industries (+40). Those losing jobs over the year were retail trade (-160), manufacturing (-90), financial activities (-90), professional & business services (-50), wholesale trade (-30) and construction (-30).
Government employment rose by 80 jobs over the year. Gains were posted in state (+50) and local government (+30).
