ThePortlander

Unionized State Workers Set to Receive Raise on Wednesday, but Should They?

The Statesman Journal newspaper reminded Oregon taxpayers today that unionized state employees are set to receive a 4.75% raise as of Wednesday, September 1st.

August 30, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Politics, Your Money | Read More »

Oregon State Economist Paints Bleak Picture for Portland and the Rest of the State

The Oregon State Economist spoke with legislators in Salem, warning them of a nearly $400 million budget shortfall since the last forecast in January, 2010.

August 26, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Politics, Your Money | Read More »

Oregon Unemployment Rate Remains High, Inches Up

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.6 percent in July, essentially unchanged from 10.5 percent in June. The rate has been between 10.5 and 10.7 percent for the most recent nine months. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 11.4 percent in July 2009. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.5 percent in both June and July.
In July, [...]

August 17, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Politics | Read More »

PCC May Hold the Key for Out of Work Portlanders

In a tough employment environment, there is hope for local job seekers and for companies that need qualified employees.
For past nine years, Portland Community College’s Washington County Workforce Development Center has offered a free, seven-week training program that helps people gain employment in the high-tech sector. The Entry Level High Tech Skills Training Program has [...]

August 9, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Northwest, Southwest | Read More »

Federal Unemployment Benefit Extension Will Bring $400 Million Into Oregon

Nearly 110,000 Oregonians will benefit from an unemployment compensation program enacted by Congress today. The president signed The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 into law this afternoon.
The new law will bring $350-$400 million dollars into Oregon’s economy in the form of unemployment benefits. These funds are used to support families and communities and keep [...]

July 22, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Politics, Your Money | Read More »

Unemployment Rate Still High in Oregon but Better than Last Year

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.5 percent in June, essentially unchanged from 10.6 percent in May. The rate has been between 10.5 and 10.7 percent for the most recent eight months. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 11.6 percent in June 2009, which tied May 2009 as Oregon’s highest unemployment rate since the early 1980s.
The U.S. [...]

July 13, 2010 | Posted in Business, Featured, Politics | Read More »