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Oregon鈥檚 unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in March. That鈥檚 down from 4% in February.

California has almost $20 billion of debt from the surge in unemployment claims during the pandemic, more than any other state. One reason is California鈥檚 higher unemployment rate; another is that employer taxes haven鈥檛 kept up with increasing benefits. Now, employers will see an automatic tax increase to start paying off the debt, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed spending $3 billion in state funds to reduce the debt.

The state's Employment Development Department says it suspects 98% of the 27,000 medical providers associated with disability claims are fraudulent.

California is asking some 1.4 million unemployment recipients to prove their eligibility months after receiving aid as part of a fraud recovery campaign. But some people say they鈥檙e caught in the Employment Development Department鈥檚 dragnet because they don鈥檛 have the documents to be cleared. Now, some risk having to pay back more than $30,000 鈥� or face collection.

California is requiring unemployment recipients to retroactively prove their work history 鈥� but experts say low-income recipients could be forced to repay money they don鈥檛 have. Some even say ineligible recipients should get a pass.

California has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Several factors are contributing, including the state鈥檚 slow-to-rebound leisure and hospitality sectors. But the state has a lot of job openings, and high quit rates suggest workers are optimistic they can find better positions.

California鈥檚 official unemployment rate is 7.5%. But a newer method of measuring unemployment reveals a far larger portion of the state is struggling to find full-time employment that pays enough to cover the cost of living.

California鈥檚 unemployment agency is making progress on recommendations by state officials to reduce wait times for payments and cut down on fraud 鈥� which the department now estimates to be around $20 billion.

Employment growth in the state saw a 鈥渟lowdown鈥� amid a slump in seasonal hiring at schools.

Multiple federal programs are sunsetting Sept. 4, cutting benefits to tens of thousands in Oregon.

The report concludes that people of color, low-wage earners and women were more likely to suffer job losses during the pandemic.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners just sent another letter to Oregon Governor Kate Brown. The latest missive asks for a halt to enhanced unemployment benefits put in place during the pandemic.