April 2026 Central Oregon Economic Indicators

By Clare McGrady, Workforce Analyst/Economist, Oregon Employment Department

‍February in View:

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the United States marginally increased from 4.3% in January to 4.4% in February. In Oregon, the unemployment rate remained at 5.2% which marks the third consecutive month at this rate.

In Deschutes County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.2% in February 2025 to 4.8% in February 2026. Similar increases were seen in Crook and Jefferson counties where the unemployment rate was 5.1% and 4.6% in February 2025 and 5.9% and 5.6% in February 2026, respectively.

Topic of the Month: Education Levels Gaining and Losing Employment Share, 2024-2034

The Oregon Employment Department produces 10-year employment projections by industry and occupation for Oregon and its regions. The typical entry-level education and competitive education level are listed for each occupation included in the projections. Employment is expected to increase within each typical entry-level education category (ranging from less than high school to a doctoral or professional degree). Despite total increases in employment across each category, some education levels are expected to grow faster than total employment and increase their share of the total employment pie. The chart above lists the percentage point change to each education level in the East Cascades region for the 2024-2034 projections. Each percentage point change shows how much that education level's share of total employment is expected to rise or fall between 2024 and 2034.

Bachelor's degree-level jobs are gaining labor market share. Occupations that typically require a bachelor's degree will make up 0.4 percentage point more of all jobs in 2034 than they did in 2024. As a result, bachelor's level-jobs are projected to represent a larger slice of the workforce pie in 2034.

High school diploma-level jobs are losing labor market share. Occupations requiring only a high school diploma will make up 0.6 percentage point less of all jobs in 2034. Employment is still growing for these jobs, but they are projected to grow slower than the labor market overall.

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Articles of Interest

“The Jobs Most Likely to Be Affected by Artificial Intelligence in Oregon” by Sarah Cunningham, Oregon Employment Department.

“Winter 2026 Hiring Among Oregon’s Private Employers Remained Flat from Fall” by Anna Johnson, Oregon Employment Department.

“Oregon’s Job Growth Fastest in Private Education and Health Services” by Molly Hendrickson, Oregon Employment Department.