By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog This Oregon Employment Department released the initial estimates for June 2016 in terms of jobs and the unemployment rate. Overall the data continue to bring good news, even as the unemployment rate ticked up a bit. The reason being is the […]

By Oregon Employment Department Oregon businesses reported 47,600 vacancies in spring 2016. That’s an increase of 6,400 from winter, but 5,700 fewer job vacancies than the all-time high of 53,300 in spring 2015.

Congressman Kurt Schrader Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-5), Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5), Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congressman Collin Peterson (MN-7) introduced legislation that will initiate a reasonable three-year phase-in of the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The new rule, proposed in May, raises the threshold for employees who are […]

By Cascade Policy Institute, Now that the massive Gross Receipts Tax measure IP 28 will be on Oregon’s November ballot, we likely will see many estimates of its impact on the state economy. An economic research center at Portland State University just came out with its report on the measure, […]

Oregon Department of Revenue, As of May 30, the Department of Revenue has processed $14.9 million in marijuana tax payments this year. Medical marijuana dispensaries started collecting a 25-percent tax on their recreational marijuana sales in January. The department would like to remind dispensaries that their first-quarter marijuana tax returns […]

Barran Liebman Oregon Law Firm By Josephine Ko The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has published its Final Rule modernizing the guidelines that prohibit sex discrimination in employment for covered federal contractors. This follows on the heels of Executive Order 11246, which broadly proscribes sex-based barriers in employment […]

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, Speaking at the Open Technology Institute , Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., warned that proposed changes to expand government hacking and surveillance powers pose a dangerous threat to the security of power plants and other critical infrastructure connected to the internet, as well as Americans’ […]

By Oregon Employment Department, How would a wage of $78,500 strike you? Probably as a really good wage, but not an absolutely spectacular one. Now, how would you like to make that much every three months for a total annual wage of $314,000? Welcome to the world of the top […]

By NFIB, A bill permitting small business owners to reimburse workers for the cost of health insurance should pass the House with bipartisan support, said the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “Congress could not have intended for small business owners to be punished severely for trying to help workers […]

Oregon Economic Indicators: Oregon continues to grow at a pace similar to that of prior expansions. Highlights of this month’s report include: – The Oregon measure of economic activity slipped to 0.62, down from an upwardly revised April figure The three-month moving average, which smooths month-to-month volatility in the measure […]