June 2026 Central Oregon Economic Indicators

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

May in View:

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 4.3% in May 2026. In Oregon, the unemployment rate remained at 5.2%which marks the fifth consecutive month at this rate.

In Deschutes County, the over-the-year seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 4.8%. Deschutes County is the only county in Central Oregon with an unemployment rate lower than Oregon’s rate. Crook and Jefferson County saw slight increases in their unemployment rate. In Crook County, the unemployment rate was 5.7% in May 2025 and 6.0% in May 2026. In Jefferson County, the unemployment rate was 5.5% in May 2025 and 5.6% in May2026.

Articles of Interest

“Oregon Wages and Hours in Third Quarter 2025: Most Industries Saw Real Wage Growth” by Molly Hendrickson

“Employment and Economic Impact of Oregon’s Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Industry” by Nelson Gomes