Salem, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Salem fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 9.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Salem peaked in December 2010 at 11.1% and is now 1.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 9.6% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Salem unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Oregon	8.9%	-0.2	-1.7
Salem	9.6%	-0.3	-1.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Salem, Oregon, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Salem, Oregon Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Salem peaked in December 2010 at 22,267. There are now 3,218 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Salem employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Salem, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Salem	19,049	-725	-3,218

Number of Unemployed Persons

Salem, Oregon Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Oregon Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	8.9%	9.6%	19,049
November 2011	8.7%	9.1%	9.9%	19,774
October 2011	8.9%	9.5%	10.3%	20,467
September 2011	9.0%	9.6%	10.2%	20,226
August 2011	9.1%	9.6%	10.0%	19,914
July 2011	9.1%	9.5%	10.0%	19,761
June 2011	9.1%	9.4%	9.8%	19,397
May 2011	9.0%	9.3%	9.6%	19,074
April 2011	9.0%	9.5%	9.6%	19,159
March 2011	8.9%	9.9%	9.9%	19,668
February 2011	9.0%	10.2%	10.3%	20,531
January 2011	9.1%	10.4%	10.8%	21,567