By Oregon Small Business Association, Although schools brought back fewer employees and construction slowed in September, resulting in a net loss of 200 jobs, Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent. Despite flat job growth, the Oregon Employment Department reported more Oregonians worked during the month than in August, when […]

By Oregon Employment Department, September 2021 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties In September 2021, all but three of Oregon’s 36 counties experienced over-the-month decreases in their unemployment rates. The unemployment rates in Deschutes, Lake, and Wallowa counties remained unchanged. Lincoln County saw the largest decrease over the month with […]

Continued Statewide Burden on Businesses Jeopardize Economic Health for These and Other Employers By Karen Vineyard, chair, Oregon Business and Industry As we wind down summer and continue down a somewhat uncertain path of recovery from the global pandemic, our team at OBI continues to find opportunities to not only […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, A pandemic… A supply chain crisis… Inflation spikes… and now an outright product ban which will force dozens of businesses to close and lay off employees. Washington County is hosting a hearing thus Tuesday on an ordinance to outlaw the sales of flavored vaping within […]

By National Federation of Independent Business, The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased one point to 99.1. Three of the 10 Index components improved, five declined, and two were unchanged. “Small business owners are doing their best to meet the needs of customers, but are unable to hire workers or […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, Both Newport and Cannon Beach have 5% Meals Tax proposals on the November 2021 ballot. Newport’s tax is Measure 21-205 which would fund public safety, library, parks, facilities and other services. Cannon Beach’s tax measure is ballot 4-210 and it would fund the Fire District […]

Oregon Attorney General Release,   Oregon Data Breaches Rise in 2021; Oregon AG Settles with CPA Firm In recognition of October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Attorney General Rosenblum today released updated data showing an increase in data breaches reported to the Oregon Attorney General’s Office. For the first nine months of […]

Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis It has been our office’s view that what matters most for labor supply is total household income. If you have the financial cushion to not work given *gestures at everything* then some individuals will choose not to do so. Initially federal aid kept […]

By Oregon Business & Industry Survey Shows Stunning Number of Businesses are Considering Leaving Oregon Due to Taxes Due to recently passed new taxes and increases of existing taxes, at both the state and local levels, a stunning number of Oregon businesses are now giving serious consideration to leaving Oregon […]

By Dr. Eric Fruits Cascade Policy Institute A few months ago, Oregonians learned they will be getting a Kicker next year. Now, like clockwork, a noisy network of naysayers is clamoring to kick the Kicker to the curb. I say, “No way!” Experience has taught us that our Oregon legislature […]