The Oregon Employment Department regularly releases monthly data on changes in employment and population in Clackamas County and around the State. These monthly snapshots give a picture of current conditions, but also can help identify trends in the local economy.

The most recent report, which summarizes data collected in April of this year, shows that the strong employment rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic has probably reached at least a temporary zenith. Total nonfarm jobs were 171,300 in April, down 200 from March, but still up sharply from April 2022 as 3200 jobs were added over that one-year period. Almost 80 percent of the jobs added in the last 12 months were in professional and business services, educational and health services and construction, mirroring the return to in-person/in-office work and a reawakening economy.

The unemployment rate for the County remained at a seasonally-adjusted low 3.6 percent, however there were still more than 8000 County residents looking for work at the end of April. Not surprisingly, this number has dropped precipitously from its April 2020 Pandemic level of over 30,000 County residents who were unemployed.

Clackamas County also continues to gain new residents. For the 10 years ending in April, county population surged by almost 49,000 residents. This figure includes both people moving to the County and live births minus deaths. Happy Valley has had the largest population growth, adding 11,724 new residents during this period. Lake Oswego’s population grew by 4,378.