- August 31, 2016
- Oregon Center for Public Policy
- Staff Report
Although Oregon’s labor market is stronger than it has been since before the Great Recession, there is still room for improvement. Strong job growth in early 2016 lowered Oregon’s unemployment rate to levels not seen since the mid-1990s. However, the unemployment rate alone doesn’t capture the insufficient and uneven recovery of Oregon’s labor market, which keeps many working families struggling economically.
Oregon lawmakers can help struggling workers and strengthen the Oregon economy with certain targeted investments. These include expanding access to affordable child care, investing in education, and making needed repairs and improvements to Oregon’s infrastructure.