Oregon Employment Steady

Oregon's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 8.6 percent for March represented a small drop in joblessness compared to February's rate of 8.7 percent. Payroll employment actually dropped by a statistically insignificant 300 jobs. When comparing the number to March of 2011, the rate has gone down a full percent over the last 12 months.

183-thousand Oregonians are classified as unemployed. The trade, transportation and utility sector added a thousand jobs; the service sector picked up 900.