Oregon Unemployment Rate Reaches 12.1%

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 12.1% in March, from 10.7% in February.

The state may have the highest unemployment rate in the nation — the federal government will release updated unemployment statistics this week.

The state lost 14,000 jobs last month; down from 22,800 in February. The January 2008 rate was 5.3%.

More than 256,400 Oregonians were unemployed last month, compared to 115,629 a year earlier.