PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon’s jobless rate has fallen below the national rate for the first time since 1996.
The state Employment Department says Oregon’s unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent in March. That’s slightly lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 5.5 percent.
Thought the difference between the rates is statistically insignificant, Employment Department economist David Cooke says the numbers show how much the state’s economy has improved over the last year.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in March 2014.
Cooke says the Oregon economy benefited from lower fuel prices and an unusually mild winter.
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