PORTLAND -- State officials say Oregon's unemployment rate was essentially unchanged last month, marking four months of stagnation in hiring. The figures suggest that Oregon's rate is tracking with the national economic slowdown.
The state Employment Department said Tuesday the unemployment rate in June was 9.4 percent, essentially unchanged since May.
Since the fall, the agency says, the state has seen four months of improved hiring numbers, followed by four flat months.
The employment figures show that the squeeze on state aid to schools is having an impact. Local government education employment is down by 4,600 jobs over the past year, about 4 percent.
In the past year, the agency said, private sector jobs are up by about 2 percent, while overall government employment is down by 3 percent.
