Portland Jobs Report: Metro Adds 5,100 Jobs in September as Health Care Keeps Climbing

PORTLAND, OR — The Portland metro added 5,100 jobs in September, and health care is still doing the heavy lifting. The latest numbers from the Oregon Employment Department show the area's unemployment rate easing to 4.7%, with hospitals, clinics and care providers adding more workers than any other industry over the past year while manufacturing and tech keep shedding them.

Portland's September jobs report in plain English: who grew, who shrank, and where a job seeker should point a resume this fall.

Need work now? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)	4.7% in September, down from 4.8% in August and 5.1% a year earlier
Jobs added in September (seasonally adjusted)	5,100
Jobs added over the year	7,200, or 0.6%
Total metro payroll jobs	About 1.24 million
Biggest yearly gain	Health care and social assistance, +5,400
Biggest yearly loss	Manufacturing, −2,900
Source	Oregon Employment Department, released October 20, 2026

📊 The September Portland Jobs Report at a Glance

The Oregon Employment Department's Portland metro release puts nonfarm employment up 5,100 jobs in September after seasonal adjustment, a welcome turn after a revised August dip of 600. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.7%, better than a year ago and a bit stronger than Oregon's statewide 5.0%.

🏥 Health Care Keeps Hiring Across the Metro

Health care and social assistance reached roughly 187,900 jobs in the metro in September, up 5,400 from a year earlier. That 3.0% growth rate outpaces every other broad industry, according to the department. It is the same story we tracked in August, and it keeps holding.

That growth shows up from the hospital campuses on Marquam Hill to home care agencies in Gresham, clinics in Beaverton and senior living in Clackamas County. Entry points run the full ladder, from caregivers and front-desk staff to licensed nurses.

📉 Manufacturing and Tech Keep Sliding

The other side of the ledger has not changed much either. Manufacturing is down 2,900 jobs from a year ago, to about 112,000. Information, the category that covers software publishing, telecom and media, lost 1,100 over the year. Trade, transportation and utilities dropped 2,200, and retail alone was down 900 from August to September.

Coming off a factory floor in Hillsboro or a tech role downtown? Your old lane is thinner. Quality control, scheduling, logistics and data skills travel well into health care administration and professional services.

🔄 The September Swings: Schools In, Summer Out

Two big monthly moves are mostly the calendar talking. Local education, meaning K-12 districts and community colleges, added about 5,700 jobs from August to September as classes resumed, and the department noted that gain ran several thousand above a typical September. Leisure and hospitality went the other way, cutting 3,300 jobs as summer patio and tourism season wound down.

Construction (+1,200) and professional and business services (+1,800) beat seasonal expectations. Over the full year, leisure and hospitality is still up 2,600 jobs.

💼 What This Means for Your Job Search

Follow the growth. Health care is the clearest lane in the metro, and it has room for people without a clinical background. Schools just staffed up, but substitute and classroom support postings are still worth a look. Construction and office-based services had a stronger September than usual. Holiday retail and warehouse work can bridge a gap until something steadier lands.

One honest caveat: these are payroll counts, not job postings. A growing industry is a good bet, not a guarantee, so search what is actually open today and apply where your experience fits.

🔎 Search Portland Jobs Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Portland's unemployment rate right now?

The Portland metro's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% in September 2026, down from 4.8% in August and 5.1% in September 2025.

Which industry is hiring the most in Portland?

Health care and social assistance. It added 5,400 jobs over the past year, growing 3.0%, faster than any other broad industry in the metro.

Is Portland losing manufacturing and tech jobs?

Yes. Manufacturing is down 2,900 jobs over the year and the information sector, which includes much of tech and media, is down 1,100.

Why did restaurant and hotel jobs drop in September?

Mostly seasonal. Leisure and hospitality cut 3,300 jobs from August to September as summer ended, though the industry is still up 2,600 jobs from a year ago.

Point Your Search Where Portland Is Growing

Create a free profile and get matched with local openings: register on LocalJobPage. For role-by-role guides on pay, training and where to apply, visit the Portland Career Center.

Employers: Hiring in health care, education or the trades? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Portland-area job seekers.