Congrats To Oregon, Part 2! (Portland, Clackamas: 2015, insurance, unemployment rate)

[SyraBrian]

As of February 2016, Oregon's unemployment rate of 4.8% is below the 4.9% national average and Oregon's u6 rate of unemployed plus part-timers wanting full time work is right at the national average of 9.7%.

Not bad for a state that currently pays 2 bucks above the federal minimum wage, including waitstaff.

[StealthRabbit]

Go ahead and publish the cost of living in Oregon on an entry level income, vs USA average CoL, hint: it will not be within 0.1% of national average CoL, so.... You can be in a REAL financial bind in Oregon, Even IF you can find that elusive job!

As a PNW employer.... We can share some real time war stories about the competence of the PNW 'highly paid' workforce. Yes, employees can cost you a LOT more than their wage, and OUR 40+ yr reputation, and a few $mil in capital, and $10,000 annual insurance premium is in their hands.

If ONLY they could read a tape measure, and responsibly drive company vehicles.... If only........

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by SyraBrian

As of February 2016, Oregon's unemployment rate of 4.8% is below the 4.9% national average and Oregon's u6 rate of unemployed plus part-timers wanting full time work is right at the national average of 9.7%.

Not bad for a state that currently pays 2 bucks above the federal minimum wage, including waitstaff.

This is indeed good news.


But I also wonder why Portland is #3 on large cities with people receiving food stamps and how this relates to all the employment. Are many of these jobs part time? Seasonal? Minimum wage? Are we therefore creating the right kinds of jobs? Or, is the unemployment rate decreasing because more and more people are dropping off unemployment, the stat primarily used to determine employment? I mean, I know the homeless population continues to grow...

[SyraBrian]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

This is indeed good news.


But I also wonder why Portland is #3 on large cities with people receiving food stamps and how this relates to all the employment. Are many of these jobs part time? Seasonal? Minimum wage? Are we therefore creating the right kinds of jobs? Or, is the unemployment rate decreasing because more and more people are dropping off unemployment, the stat primarily used to determine employment? I mean, I know the homeless population continues to grow...

Oregon is one of the few states that allow folks who earn 185% of the poverty level to get SNAP.

Food stamp participation should go down. Because of Washington and Multnomah counties' lower 2015 unemployment rates, able-bodied adults between 18-49 are getting tossed off SNAP if they're not willing to take part in various required duties.

Clackamas County residents will probably face the same situation next year.