By David Cooke Oregon Employment Department The average weekly hours worked by Oregon’s manufacturing production workers remained low in November. At 38.2 hours per week, the reading was well below the typical level of 39 to 40 hours per week seen in Oregon during 2001 through 2007 (Graph 1 above). […]

By Oregon Tax News, Top lawmakers told Senate leaders they plan to move forward early in 2010 with an extension of a $31 billion package of tax measures for both businesses and individuals that are set to expire at the end of 2009.  They said they intend to extend the […]

By Shawna Sykes Oregon Employment Department Nearly $4.5 billion (yes, that’s billion with a “b”) was paid out to employees in Oregon’s financial activities industry in 2008. With over 88,000 jobs in financial activities in Oregon, the industry makes up 5.2 percent of all covered employment statewide.  The financial activities […]

Here is 20 of the top 50 best jobs in America as measured by pay and job growth.   Following the list is the 10 year forecast growth in that market.  If you want to knwo who is hiring in Oregon and the Northwest check this list.   Read full list of […]

Merry Christmas from the folks at Oregon Business Report

Barran Liebman LLP Oregon Law Firm, On Saturday morning, the Senate enacted an extension to the COBRA subsidy. As part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, the extension is certain to be signed into law by President Obama, triggering additional assistance for involuntarily terminated employees and notice obligations for […]

By Bill Conerly, Conerly Consulting, Businomics, With the GDP revision today I touched up my economic forecast for 2010 and 2011.  Not much has changed, but it’s worth emphasizing the uncertainty that inventories play in the outlook.  First, here’s the picture of the new forecast: The dark blue columns are […]

Oregon Employers: Download SB 519 (Mandatory Meeting Ban) Notice Here by Dennis Westlind Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law Back in June, we reported on Oregon SB 519 – the law taking effect January 1, 2010 that will prohibit Oregon employers from disciplining any employee who refuses to participate in […]

From Oregon Small Business Association, Two different studies this year exposed serious problems in the computer repair industry which often goes unquestioned by many businesses.   The Wall Street Journal did a secret study with in-store computer repair being offered by big box chain stores.   Sky News did a hidden study […]

From Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income: Percent Change 2009:II-2009:III State Personal Income: Third Quarter 2009 State personal income growth averaged 0.3 percent in the third quarter of 2009 with 19 states seeing net earnings growth for the first time in at least a year, according to estimates released today […]