Coos County lost 450 payroll jobs between July 2025 and July 2026, while neighboring Curry County’s employment was nearly unchanged.
More than 500 people left Coos County’s labor force over the year, helping keep unemployment at historically low levels despite the job cuts, regional economist Guy Tauer said.
Manufacturing, food production, trade and transportation led the decline; federal records show food manufacturers shed 67 jobs, or 24%, by March 2026, the lowest March level in more than 20 years.
Health and education added about 100 jobs and tribal government about 110 in Coos County, while Curry County’s unemployment rate improved to 6.2% from 6.8%.
Both counties still remain below pre-pandemic employment levels, reflecting Oregon’s broader weak hiring trend as one of the nation’s slowest-growing states for jobs.