Overall unemployment rate moved up to 4.5% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 6,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2023.

Total employment in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA market declined by 25,777 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 40 bps to 4.5%. The national unemployment rate increased by 60 bps over the same time to 3.9%.

  • Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA unemployment rate is 64 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 10 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 7.3% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Unemployment January 2023

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.2%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 226,700; -6,000
  • Business Services: 200,000; -2,900
  • Education & Healthcare: 186,300; -1,000
  • Government: 152,700; -600
  • Manufacturing: 126,600; -700
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 114,600; -2,800
  • Construction, Mining: 82,200; -1,400
  • Financial Services: 77,600; +200
  • Other Jobs: 42,400; +400
  • IT & Development: 28,100; -200
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Unemployment by Industry January 2023

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2023 (Data published March 2023 and reports created on March 17, 2023).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.