Tuesday, August 11, 2026 / Lane County
Lane County's job losses are no longer isolated announcements
The county is down 1,200 jobs over the year, and two Eugene-Springfield employers have announced 105 layoffs between them.
Lane County had 1,200 fewer jobs in June than it did a year earlier, according to Oregon Employment Department data. That number now has some recognizable addresses attached to it.
True Value's Springfield warehouse has announced 62 layoffs, and Eugene archery manufacturer Bowtech plans to cut 43 positions as it leaves the city after 27 years. Oregon's unemployment rate was 5.2% in June, compared with 4.1% nationally.
A fresh Lookout analysis argues that local officials have more leverage over housing, permitting and small-business conditions than over a national hiring slump. The immediate fact is simpler: 105 workers at two employers have already been told their jobs are going away, while the broader county count was sliding before those announcements landed.
Field notes
What changed: A fresh local analysis connected June's official year-over-year loss of 1,200 jobs with recent layoff announcements at True Value and Bowtech.
Why it matters: The losses span distribution and manufacturing, making them harder to dismiss as one employer's bad quarter.
Who may be affected: Workers and families tied to Lane County manufacturing, warehousing and the small businesses that depend on their spending.