By Oregon Employment Department, Oregon lost 25,500 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate rose to 6.4%. Oregon closed out 2020 having added back 37% of the 285,000 jobs we lost in the spring. Job losses also occurred nationally (-140,000) in December, and the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 6.7%. […]

Data assessment shows a lack of correlation between economic sanctions and virus mitigation By Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, Wilsonville, OR– Oregon’s restaurant and lodging industries continue to suffer greatly according to the latest data made available by the Oregon Employment Department. Leisure and hospitality businesses lost 25,500 jobs in […]

By Oregon US Attorney, Press Release, Two Oregon men are facing federal charges for fraudulently converting to their personal use loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams. Andrew Aaron Lloyd, 50, of Lebanon, Oregon, and Russell A. Schort, 38, of Myrtle […]

By National Federation of Independent Business, PPP Loan Program Re-Opens for First and Second PPP Loans – NFIB Ready to Help Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans – both first and second loans – have been extended through March 31, 2021 or until the program’s funding runs out. On Tuesday, January […]

By Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association As our industry continues to struggle during this pandemic due to several factors contributing to unsustainable operations, ORLA remains steadfast in communicating daily with the Governor’s Office on reopening Oregon’s hospitality businesses. We have been urging consideration of the following: – Creating more flexibility […]

      By Josh Lehner, Office Economic Analysis Solid data on pandemic migration and working from home has always been years away. Plus we normally see migration slow down during recessions. People tend to follow the jobs, and with fewer job opportunities in a recession, fewer people usually move. […]

By John Charles Cascade Policy Institute Every month when you pay your electricity bill, you pay a surcharge of about 5.6%. If you are a natural gas customer, you pay a similar tax ranging from 2.5% to 4.9%, depending on your vendor. Both taxes are likely identified as a “Public […]

By Oregon Business and Industry With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing and the public barred from the Capitol, a majority of Oregonians believe state legislators should focus on priorities, take care of critical business and leave broad legislative agendas for another time, according to a poll conducted early this month. Funded […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis What a year it’s been. The good news is that we started the year with the strongest economy we had seen in decades, and we’re ending the year with hope as the vaccines are being delivered. Everything else? Well, I’ve never had […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, Business owners who have fallen behind on their rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic may receive help from Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, which is managing the $100 million set aside by state lawmakers for rent relief. But receiving the money may take […]