Oregon jobless rate tumbles to new record low

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - State economists say the rate of unemployed Oregonians fell again in February to 4 percent, marking the lowest figure the state has seen in at least the past four decades.

February was the second month in a row that Oregon's jobless rate declined to record lows since the state began tracking the data in 1976. The 4 percent figure was notably lower than the 4.7 percent nationwide average. It has also dropped by a full percentage point since December's 5 percent rate. In January the state's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.

February's jobless rate represents about 82,000 unemployed Oregonians out of the labor market's overall 2 million-plus workers. Nonfarm payrolls also added 8,200 jobs last month, up from 700 in January. More than half of those job gains came from the government sector, which lost 3,400 workers in January.