By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog Just as job growth has accelerated and continues to improve, so too has wage growth. Right now both wages as reported by BEA and withholdings out of paychecks are growing at nearly 6 percent overall in Oregon. This rate of growth […]

Barran Liebman Oregon Law Firm Oregon Court Strikes Down Same-Sex Marriage Ban:What Does It Mean for Employers? Today, the federal court for the District of Oregon struck down Oregon’s 2004 state constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman. Oregon now becomes the latest state to […]

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation With so much discussion focused on the rising costs of a college education, many wonder if college is really worth the investment. The answer: you better believe it. In a recent article in Science magazine, MIT economist David Autor explores the widening wealth gap within […]

Obamacare Tax Driving Small Business Health Premium Increases by TJ Reilly Oregon Small Business Association On June 2nd, Oregon health insurers that sell small group plans are required to file their proposed rate increases for 2015. In a health care market beset by regulatory and provider volatility, these filings are […]

By Dr. Eric Fuits Econ International & Oregon Tax News, In a recent report from the Brookings Institution, authors Ian Hathaway and Robert Litan find that American entrepreneurs started 27 percent fewer businesses in 2011 than they did five years earlier, according to data from the Census Bureau. As a […]

By J.L. Wilson Associated Oregon Industries Oregon’s largest business advocate The City of Eugene is considering a sick leave ordinance modeled on the ordinance Portland passed last year. The proposal was first presented to the Eugene City Council on February 24, 2014 by a coalition including Family Forward Oregon, and […]

Tax Reform Details Matter to Main Street’s Bottom Line By Karen Kerrigan, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council America’s tax system has not been reformed for 28 years. The pro-growth foundation of the 1986 tax reform act has deteriorated beyond recognition. Fixing the broken tax system is something most Americans and […]

By Technology Association of Oregon Oregon has more than 200 companies that are directly engaged in cyber-related industries, technologies and solutions. In addition, cyber awareness and security affect almost every business, large and small, across the state. Unlike most other states, Oregon has no coordinated support to strengthen our cyber […]

By Oregon Small Business Association Nike recently announced it will no longer produce new FuelBands—a wearable electronic exercise device that tracks heart rate, strides and other activity. Is the Portland-based sports company about to announce a related deal with Apple? Some business writers and analysts think it’s possible that Nike […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog Right now the Oregon economy continues to improve and is even a bit above our office’s forecast. As we continue to work on the next outlook, it can be useful to look back and compare business cycles to see what, if […]