Portland Metro Area Job Market Stumbles, Unemployment Climbs

The Portland metropolitan area’s economy is showing signs of strain as job losses mount, pushing the unemployment rate upward. This shift arrives amid anticipated layoffs and a backdrop of earlier job cuts within the region’s key sectors.

Job Losses Spike in Portland

The Portland metropolitan area shed approximately 7,500 jobs during May, according to recent figures. This downturn has contributed to a rise in the jobless rate, climbing from 3.9% in May 2024 to 4.5% this year. Over the past year, the area has seen a decrease of around 14,000 employed individuals.

Oregon’s overall unemployment rate also increased, reaching 4.8% in May. In contrast, the U.S. unemployment rate was at 4.2% for the same period. The state’s unemployment figures have risen significantly, up 1.2 percentage points since hitting a recent low between March and June 2023.

Portland metro employment picture is looking a little shaky, even ahead of a new round of expected Intel layoffs and without factoring in recent job cuts at two grid battery companies.

— world-today-news.com (@worldtodaynews) June 18, 2025

“With the job losses, the number of unemployed people in the metro area is up about 11,000 since May 2024, pushing the unemployment rate from 3.9% to 4.5%.”

—Source Name, Oregon Employment Department Report

While Portland struggles, Central Oregon experienced job growth, leading the state’s regions with a 1.4% gain. The Willamette Valley followed, with 1.1% growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate in May 2024 was 4.0%, reflecting a slightly better economic picture compared to Oregon’s current standing (BLS 2024).

Regional Differences

The Portland metropolitan statistical area encompasses Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill counties in Oregon, along with Clark and Skamania counties in Washington state. The Coast, however, experienced a drop of 0.4%, while the five Oregon counties within the Portland metro area declined by 0.6%.

These figures underscore the variable economic performance across different areas. This divergence adds further complexity to the current economic environment. This complex situation reveals challenges in the state’s employment sector.