Ore. unemployment rate falls again, to 8.2 percent

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- State officials say Oregon's unemployment rate continues to inch down and was at 8.2 percent last month.

The State Employment Department said that's the lowest rate since October 2008. At that time, the economy was weakening significantly in the Great Recession, and Oregon's unemployment rate was 7.7 percent.

The department released its monthly report on jobs and employment Tuesday.

It said that at 8.2 percent, the current unemployment rate is a tenth of a percentage point lower than in February.

The report said Oregon added 1,900 jobs in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, a slower pace than in January and February.

The private sector added 2,700 jobs in March, while governments cut 800.