Salem, Oregon Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Salem fell 0.0 percentage points in October 2019 to 4.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Oregon rate. The unemployment rate in Salem peaked in April 2009 at 11.3% and is now 6.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.1% in February 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Salem unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.6%	+0.1	-0.2
Oregon	4.1%	0.0	-0.1
Salem	4.4%	0.0	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2019 data as November 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 22,573. There are now 13,669 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,302 in March 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 602. Salem employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Salem, Oregon) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Salem	8,904	-50	-215

Number of Unemployed Persons

Salem, Oregon Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Oregon Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployment Rate	Salem Unemployed
November 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
October 2019	3.6%	4.1%	4.4%	8,904
September 2019	3.5%	4.1%	4.4%	8,954
August 2019	3.7%	4.0%	4.3%	8,731
July 2019	3.7%	4.0%	4.2%	8,502
June 2019	3.7%	4.0%	4.2%	8,482
May 2019	3.6%	4.2%	4.3%	8,622
April 2019	3.6%	4.3%	4.4%	8,879
March 2019	3.8%	4.4%	4.4%	8,990
February 2019	3.8%	4.4%	4.5%	9,089
January 2019	4.0%	4.3%	4.5%	9,158
December 2018	3.9%	4.3%	4.5%	9,112