NEWPORT, Ore. – Lincoln County experienced a slight employment decline in July, according to the Oregon Employment Department, reflecting both local and statewide economic challenges.
Local Trends in Lincoln County
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment in Lincoln County fell by 130 jobs in July, leaving the county with 18,340 jobs. Economists had expected a gain of about 190 jobs, but government losses offset private-sector growth.
Overall, total nonfarm employment—unadjusted for seasonal expectations—rose by 60 jobs. The private sector added 260 jobs, while government employment decreased by 200.
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Key highlights:
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Leisure and hospitality: +220 jobs
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Professional and business services: +30 jobs
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Local education: -210 jobs
Over the past year, the county shed 200 jobs, representing a 1% decrease. The largest annual gains came from accommodations (+80 jobs), while professional and business services lost 110 jobs, and Indian tribal employment declined by 70.
Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.6% in July, up from 5.5% in June and 5.1% a year earlier.
Statewide Employment Picture
Across Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 2,700 jobs in July. That followed a sharp revised loss of 8,600 jobs in June.
Sectors with the largest July losses included:
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Financial activities: -2,700 jobs
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Professional and business services: -1,400 jobs
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Health care and social assistance: -1,100 jobs
Some industries showed growth despite the broader decline:
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Construction: +2,900 jobs
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Transportation, warehousing, and utilities: +800 jobs
Construction, with 112,700 jobs in July, bounced back from weaker performance in prior months but still fell below its average level of 117,500 jobs recorded during the previous two years.
Professional and business services continued its downward trend since early 2023. The industry accounted for 254,100 jobs in July, down by 14,800 jobs (5.5%) since its March 2023 peak. All three of its subsectors—administrative support, professional/technical services, and management—dropped by similar percentages.
Year-Over-Year Statewide Changes
From July 2024 to July 2025, Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 24,600 jobs (-1.2%).
Industries with the largest declines included:
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Manufacturing: -9,400 jobs (-5.0%)
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Information, private education, wholesale trade, financial activities, and construction: each lost between 3–4% of employment
Only two major industries expanded during the year:
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Health care and social assistance: +9,800 jobs (+3.2%)
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Leisure and hospitality: +2,000 jobs (+1.0%)
The Oregon Employment Department reported 2,114,205 employed and 121,181 unemployed Oregonians in July.
Rising Unemployment
Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in July, up from 4.9% in June and 4.2% a year earlier. The rate is now 1.4 percentage points above its recent low of 3.6% in spring 2023.
By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in June and 4.2% in July.
Outlook
Economists note that Oregon’s labor market remains under pressure, particularly in cyclical sectors like construction and manufacturing. While health care and hospitality continue to grow, professional services and financial activities have struggled, weighing on the state’s recovery.
For Lincoln County, tourism-related gains in hospitality highlight the continued importance of the coastal economy, but government and professional service losses suggest ongoing structural challenges. With unemployment ticking up, both locally and statewide, officials say vigilance will be needed to address volatility in the months ahead.
