Oregon Job Market Near Breaking Point Amid Layoffs and Federal Shutdown
The federal government shutdown is beginning to have a ripple effect on the employment market, and the indications are grim for Oregon.
Unemployment in the state has been steadily increasing throughout the year, but the October shutdown has kick-started a spiraling jobless curve.
Oregon Now Has a 5% Unemployment Rate
Oregon recorded a 5% unemployment rate in August, and while the government shutdown has affected the collection of unemployment data nationwide, some information is filtering through.
Indications are that there were almost 190,000 unemployment claims in the state through mid-October. This represents 14,000 more claims by jobless Oregonians compared to the same period last year.
Unemployment in the state has been steadily climbing throughout the year, but since June, claims are 20% higher than in June 2024.
Unemployment Has Been Exacerbated by Significant Jon Layoffs Throughout 2025
The increase in unemployment claims has been exacerbated by significant job layoffs in Oregon in recent months.
Former Intel employees may only now be lodging unemployment claims because they continued to be paid, depending on their service record. The Intel July layoff saw 2,400 workers jobless.
The same trend could apply to Wells Fargo, where hundreds of Oregon workers lost their jobs last December.
Other significant job losses in the state were recorded at the Fred Meyer chain of hypermarket superstores, food and drug retailer Albertsons, and transport company UPS.
In Oregon, the government shutdown has resulted in 100 new claims by federal workers in the week ending October 18.