Bustling state economy churns out jobs

About 2 million Oregonians of the state's 2.13 million labor force are employed. The state's employment also has grown by 41,000 jobs since March 2017.

Oregon's economy continues to chug along, creating about 4,200 jobs in March, as the state's unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent.

It's the lowest sustained unemployment rate since 1976. The rate has hovered near 4 percent for the past 15 months, according to state employment officials.

That means about 2 million Oregonians of the state's 2.13 million labor force are employed. The state's employment also has grown by 41,000 jobs since March 2017.

During March, retail trade added 2,400 jobs, mostly due to stronger hiring during the year's first three months, following a "somewhat lackluster" holiday hiring in retail at the end of the year, state officials said Tuesday, April 17.

Manufacturing rebounded in March, adding 1,200 jobs, following a loss of 900 jobs in February. Professional and business services added 800 jobs, something state officials called a "modest expansion."