Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 220 jobs in May led by strong gains in leisure & hospitality.
According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 32,953 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 6.4%, which was slightly higher than the 6.2% mark announced in April.
Leisure & hospitality gained 170 jobs in May. Other industries posting estimated employment increases were private education & health services and retail trade. Government employment increased by 50 jobs. Gains were posted in federal, state and local government education.
Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County was down by 630 jobs, a loss of 2.3%.
Employment fell over the year in most private-sector industries. The most notable declines occurred in retail trade (-190), leisure & hospitality (-120), financial activities (-110), manufacturing (-70), construction (-60) and wholesale trade (-60).
Professional & business services rose by 40 jobs over the year as did government employment. An increase in state government and local government was offset by a loss of 20 federal government jobs.
