Central Oregon Economic Indicators — May 2025

Published on May 29, 2025

Economy in Central Oregon

By Jake Procino | Workforce Analyst/Economist, Multnomah County | Oregon Employment Department

Central Oregon Economy in View:

Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment grew 0.8%, adding 16,400 jobs over the last 12 months ending in April. In the same time frame, the Bend MSA (consisting of Oregon’s Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties) grew 2.5% adding 2,800 jobs.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Oregon ticked up to 4.7% in April, a bit above where it was last year at 4.1%. Oregon’s unemployment is similar to the U.S.’s unemployment rate of 4.2%. Notably, Oregon remains similar it’s 10-year unemployment rate averages of 4.6%. Unemployment in Deschutes and Jefferson counties ticked up slightly in both counties, while declining slightly in Crook County.

Through June 2025, seasonally adjusted data are not available for Oregon MSAs (including the Bend MSA) or other MSAs around the country due to the Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusting MSA geographies and revamping their labor force estimates.

Find more about the Central Oregon economy here.

Topic of the Month: National Parks in Oregon

The National Park Service lists five national parks, three national trails, 2,103 National Register of Historic Places Listings, 17 National Historic Landmarks and 11 National Natural Landmarks in Oregon.

According to the National Park Service, there were about 1.0 million park visitors who spent an estimated $86.8 million while visiting national parks in Oregon. Total visitor spending nominally increased 1.5% from 2022, corresponding with a small increase in visits to Oregon national parks. This is below a peak of $97.5 million of total visitor spending in Oregon in 2016.

The 2023 National Park Service Visitor Spending Effects Report estimated that a total of 1,199 jobs were supported by National Park Service visitor spending in Oregon. Additionally, the report estimated that the visitor spending resulted in $48 million in labor income, $76 million in value added (contribution to the gross domestic product) and $131 million in economic output (value of the production of goods and services).

Read more about the economy impacts of National Parks in Oregon here.