Department of Numbers

Salem, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Salem fell 0.3 percentage points in April 2023 to 4.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Salem peaked in April 2020 at 12.0% and is now 8.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Salem unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate April 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.2
Oregon 4.0% -0.4 +0.4
Salem 4.0% -0.3 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with April 2023 data as May metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Salem, Oregon, National

Salem, Oregon monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Salem, Oregon Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Salem peaked in April 2020 at 23,543. There are now 15,044 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,937 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 562. Salem employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Salem, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons April 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Salem 8,499 -796 +479

Number of Unemployed Persons

Salem, Oregon Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oregon
Unemployment Rate
Salem
Unemployment Rate
Salem
Unemployed
May
2023
3.7%
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 4.0% 8,499
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.3% 9,295
February
2023
3.6% 4.7% 4.7% 10,006
January
2023
3.4% 4.8% 4.7% 10,159
December
2022
3.5% 4.8% 4.7% 10,183
November
2022
3.6% 4.8% 4.8% 10,255
October
2022
3.7% 4.8% 4.8% 10,261
September
2022
3.5% 4.6% 4.7% 9,981
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.5% 9,541
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.2% 9,026
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.0% 8,549

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.