Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, We know the economy is beginning to run into capacity constraints. The biggest issue today facing Oregon firms is the ability to attract and retain workers. The labor market is getting tighter for two primary reasons: a strong economy, and demographics as retirements […]

Congressman Peter FeFazio, Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security,  urged Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske to continue passenger screenings at small and medium-sized airports across the United […]

By National Retail Federation, A small Florida-based retailer who sells both in-store and online told Congress that the Supreme Court ruling in favor of online sales tax collection will end a price disadvantage suffered by local stores without creating an undue burden for internet sellers. “BrandsMart is looking forward to […]

Oregon Employment Department Release, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in June, which was Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. Oregon’s May unemployment rate was 4.1 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was also 4.0 percent in June.

By Oregon Attorney General, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum joined a multistate lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State seeking to block the Trump Administration’s recent action that will allow downloadable 3D-printed gun tutorials to be available online. The lawsuit asks the court for an immediate nationwide temporary restraining order […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Foundation, Will Portland’s proposal to outlaw straws be an environmental milestone like Oregon’s historic bottle bill or will it be a public fiasco like the California coffee cancer label which became a national mockery and scientifically rebuffed by the state’s own Environmental Health Office? Critics […]

By Chris Morgan & Johnny Hong Barran Liebman Oregon Employer Law Firm Starting on July 1, a number of key legislative updates take effect. Below are a few key reminders for employers. Transit Tax Starting with the first paycheck given to employees that accounts for wages earned in the month […]

US Chamber Press Release, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President of the Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness (CCMC) Tom Quaadman issued the following statement upon House passage of the “JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018,” commonly known as the JOBS Act 3.0: “The House took an important step […]

By Oregon Employment Department, Each year we summarize the key findings from our job vacancy survey into a report, with specific emphasis on the challenges businesses face filling their job vacancies. In 2017, Oregon businesses reported 60,700 job vacancies at any given time in 2017. Of these vacancies, 38,700 job […]

US Attorney, Oregon District Press Release Monte Robin Kaija, Jr., 47, of Portland, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for detonating a small explosive device at a Fred Meyer store in Southeast Portland, and later possessing a homemade metal pipe bomb. According to court documents, on May 21, […]