Oregon
Central Oregon unemployment rates fall in June; Deschutes, Crook counties see job gains – KTVZ
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased throughout Central Oregon in June, while both Crook and Deschutes counties saw total nonfarm employment increase over the month, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday.
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased over the month of June and is now 6.1%, down from 6.3% in May — in June of last year, it was 5.4%. The unemployment rate remains 1.6 percentage points above the record low set before the pandemic when it was 4.5%.
Crook County gained 160 jobs (+2.2%) in June, with most gains occurring in the public sector (+100 jobs) and most losses occurring in private education and health services (-20 jobs). Employment levels in Crook County are now 8.8% above pre-pandemic levels in February 2020 (+590 jobs).
The county lost 70 jobs in the last year (-0.9%). Job losses were concentrated in construction (-160 jobs), information (-30 jobs), and other services (-10 jobs). Marginal gains were concentrated in private education and health services (+40 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+30 jobs).
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.1% in May to 4.0% in June. June’s unemployment rate remains 0.6 percentage point above its record low of 3.4% before the onset of the pandemic.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Deschutes County gained 420 jobs (+0.4%) from May to June. Most gains were concentrated in accommodation and food services (+710 jobs), with minor gains in financial activities (+30 jobs) and mining, logging, and construction (+30 jobs). Total nonfarm employment is now 95,300.
Total nonfarm employment declined by 1.1% (-1,070 jobs) from June 2023 to June 2024. Over the year, job gains were concentrated in private education and health services (+670 jobs). Other notable job gains took place in durable goods (+70 jobs) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+60 jobs). Over-the-year losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (-510 jobs); retail trade (-400 jobs); professional and business services (-320 jobs); government (-190 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (-140 jobs).
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly over the month of June and is now 4.6%. The unemployment rate was 4.4% from October 2019 to December 2019, shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19.
Total nonfarm employment decreased by 80 jobs in June (-1.2%). Private-sector job gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+40 jobs), with marginal gains in other services (+10 jobs), and financial activities (+10 jobs). Total nonfarm seasonally adjusted employment is now -1.8% (-120 jobs) below the pre-pandemic employment level.
Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment decreased by 110 jobs over the past year (-1.6%). Job gains were concentrated in private education and health services (+30 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+30 jobs); professional and business services (+20 jobs); and other services (+20 jobs). Losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-130 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-40 jobs); and the public sector (-40 jobs).
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the July county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, August 20, and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for July on Wednesday, August 14.
The good times keep on rolling for the Oregon Ducks in the recruiting world. Dan Lanning and the Ducks scored a massive commitment from five-star quarterback Will Mencl out of Chandler, Arizona.
Oregon had been rumored to be leading the race for Mencl’s services for months, but the No. 1 quarterback in the country, per Rivals, cleared the air and committed to the Ducks on Wednesday evening. Mencl chose the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State, both of which battled hard for him down the stretch.
However, Mencl has been connected to Oregon for a long time. While he was offered last fall before breaking out in his junior season, Mencl has been a fan of the program long before he popped up on the Ducks’ recruiting radar. In a post shared by Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong, Mencl was announced as a quarterback for the Ducks when he was a kid at the 2019 NFL Draft fan experience in 2019.
Now, Mencl is ready to don the green and yellow for real and make his childhood dreams come true. The Ducks have made a point to get Mencl on campus as often as possible and as recently as last week. The continued connection between both sides is ultimately what made the decision easy for the nation’s top passer. Mencl said he told Lanning and the Oregon staff about his decision on Sunday.
“The biggest thing was the relationship with the staff,” Mencl said after committing. “I feel like that continued to grow over time, especially when I first got there last spring. Being able to sit down with Coach Koa, really being an underlooked guy at that time, and kind of blowing up my junior season. And then, the path to the NFL. You can’t deny what they do with quarterbacks and the type of scheme they run. I felt like that was the best fit for me and my family to get to the next level.”
Koa Ka’ai, Oregon’s new quarterback coach, made waves earlier in the offseason after his recruiting test about ice cream flavors went viral, but that doesn’t appear to have scared Mencl off. In fact, the two have a close connection that Oregon hopes will translate to success on the field in the near future.
“My relationship with Coach Koa, I feel like that is super, super strong,” Mencl told Rivals. “I’ve had a lot of discussions with Coach Lanning about the culture there and how they’re going to continue to sustain greatness throughout the program.”
Mencl exploded onto the national recruiting scene with a massive junior season for Chandler. He completed more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
The Ducks expect to have some competition for Mencl to compete with when he joins the team for the 2027 season, with Dylan Raiola and Akili Smith Jr. already on the roster and competing for a role as the backup. Oregon has gone to the transfer portal as well in recent seasons, finding success with Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and now Dante Moore.
Oregon has recruited well at quarterback in the past, establishing an NFL pedigree that attracted Mencl. Maybe he will be the one to buck the trend and give the Ducks a true, homegrown product under center.
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‘Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,’ a Wine Enthusiast contributor said of an Oregon wine
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wine Enthusiast released a list of the top 40 sparkling wines around the world in 2026 – highlighting two bottles of bubbly from Oregon.
“While it can seem like you need a fortune to enjoy high quality sparkling wine, you honestly don’t. Excellent affordable bubbles are being produced around the world, often in places you might not expect. Each of the selections on our inaugural Top 40 Sparkling Wines list delivers personality, freshness, and celebration for under $75,” Wine Enthusiast wrote.
Wine Enthusiast divided its list into separate sparkling categories including, Champagne, Italian Bollicine, American sparkling and bottles $25 and under.
Snagging a spot on the American sparkling list: Corollary Wines in McMinnville.
Corollarly’s 2021 Momtazi Carbonic Rosé Pinot Noir scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
“This is a Peter Max print of a wine, with vivid aromas and flavors to match the wine’s electric Kool-Aid color. It is filled to the brim with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries, candied rose petals, apricots, and a bitter note similar to watermelon rind. Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,” wrote Wine Enthusiast contributor Michael Alberty.
The second Oregon winery to earn a spot on the list: Lytle-Barnett in Dundee.
Wine Enthusiast also gave Lytle-Barnett’s 2018 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay 96 points.
“Bubbles as persistent as an eight-year-old with a question deliver aromas of dried rose petals, macerated strawberries, and a touch of fresh hay and talc. This 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend is packed with flavors of lemon zest, Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled in caramel, and a dollop of raspberry,” Alberty wrote.
The nods to Corollary and Lytle-Barnett come as the wineries recently helped launch Method Oregon, a nonprofit made up of 50 Oregon wineries aiming to turn Oregon into a global sparkling wine destination.
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