Department of Numbers

Bend-Redmond, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bend fell 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 4.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Bend peaked in April 2020 at 16.6% and is now 12.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.6% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Bend unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Oregon 3.7% -0.3 0.0
Bend 4.0% -0.1 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Bend, Oregon, National

Bend, Oregon monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bend, Oregon Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bend peaked in April 2020 at 15,646. There are now 11,563 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,741 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 342. Bend employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bend, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Bend 4,083 -168 +192

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bend, Oregon Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oregon
Unemployment Rate
Bend
Unemployment Rate
Bend
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.7% 4.0% 4,083
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 4.1% 4,251
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.4% 4,571
February
2023
3.6% 4.7% 4.7% 4,847
January
2023
3.4% 4.8% 4.7% 4,880
December
2022
3.5% 4.8% 4.7% 4,851
November
2022
3.6% 4.8% 4.7% 4,876
October
2022
3.7% 4.8% 4.7% 4,856
September
2022
3.5% 4.6% 4.5% 4,699
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.3% 4,482
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.1% 4,247

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.