ECONorthwest recently released Oregon’s third Talent Assessment, which we developed for the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The report details hiring and workforce issues facing the state in the post-COVID era, and notes that 84% of employers are having trouble filling positions. The report deems this a “highly unusual labor market” in which the unemployment rate is low, and, at the time of report publication, employment levels lagged behind pre-pandemic levels. Employers have boosted wages to attract and retain workers, the high cost of living is affecting employers’ ability to hire, and remote work is increasing across all sectors in Oregon. According to OPB, “one of the hopes for the assessment is that it will help inform the implementation of Future Ready Oregon — a $200 million workforce spending bill the Oregon Legislature passed earlier this year.”
- Read the full article here
- Read more commentary from The Oregonian/Oregon Live here
- Hear John Tapogna, Senior Policy Advisor, speak about the report on The Jefferson Exchange
- Read the full report here