Life goes on,APin the dark as Winter Solstice approaches
PORTLAND, OREGON - December 19, 2011 - Unemployment increrased slightly in the metro area from March to April. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian
(Thomas Boyd)
Portland's unemployment rate increased to 4.4 percent in April from 4.2 percent a month earlier, according to a new report from the state Employment Department.
The manufacturing and financial sector lost 600 jobs apiece last month, according to the report.
All other industries combined added a 1,100 workers (seasonally adjusted), and professional and business services added the most with 2,500 new jobs.
The city's jobless rate is still following a downward trend, though, as its 12-month unemployment decreased from 5.3 percent to 4.4 percent.
Unemployment is down in all of Oregon's metropolitan areas from a year ago.
The story is more muddled over the past month, however. From March to April, the jobless rate in half of the metro areas increased:
- Albany (Linn County):
- Bend-Redmond (Deschutes County):
- Corvallis (Benton County):
- Eugene (Lane County):
- Grants Pass (Josephine County):
- Medford (Jackson County):
- Salem (Marion and Polk Counties):