Salem, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Salem fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 4.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Salem peaked in April 2009 at 11.5% and is now 7.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Salem unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Oregon	4.4%	+0.1	+0.2
Salem	4.5%	-0.1	+0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 April 2009 at 22,884. There are now 13,843 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,918 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,123. Salem employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Salem, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Salem	9,041	-323	+911

Number of Unemployed Persons

Salem, Oregon Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Oregon Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.4%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.4%	4.5%	9,041
January 2019	4.0%	4.3%	4.6%	9,364
December 2018	3.9%	4.3%	4.5%	9,019
November 2018	3.7%	4.3%	4.5%	9,015
October 2018	3.8%	4.2%	4.6%	9,284
September 2018	3.7%	4.1%	4.3%	8,718
August 2018	3.8%	4.1%	4.1%	8,285
July 2018	3.9%	4.0%	4.0%	8,069
June 2018	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	7,945
May 2018	3.8%	4.0%	4.0%	8,071
April 2018	3.9%	4.1%	4.1%	8,297