Department of Numbers

Salem, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Salem fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.5%. 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 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Salem unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Oregon 3.5% +0.1 -1.1
Salem 3.5% 0.0 -1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October 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 16,135 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,296 in August 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 112. Salem employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Salem, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Salem 7,408 +112 -2,573

Number of Unemployed Persons

Salem, Oregon Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oregon
Unemployment Rate
Salem
Unemployment Rate
Salem
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.6%
September
2023
3.8% 3.5% 3.5% 7,408
August
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.5% 7,296
July
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.5% 7,379
June
2023
3.6% 3.5% 3.6% 7,612
May
2023
3.7% 3.7% 3.8% 8,008
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 4.0% 8,488
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

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.