Low- and middle-wage Oregon workers have seen their paychecks shrink in the economic upswing following the end of the Great
Raising Incomes
Realizing our human potential depends on having the resources to meet our material needs. Raising the incomes of the lowest-paid workers not only increases economic opportunity but also makes for a more prosperous state.
Raising Incomes
Realizing our human potential depends on having the resources to meet our material needs. Raising the incomes of the lowest-paid workers not only increases economic opportunity but also makes for a more prosperous state.
Latest Articles
Oregon’s minimum wage would top $19 per hour if it had kept pace with the rise in worker productivity since
A View of the State of Working Oregon For the typical Oregonian, economic progress is a distant memory. More than
How much income do families across Oregon need to meet basic necessities? A lot more than what the current minimum
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a stirring call to end racial segregation, was also a
Preventing social problems before they arise is a smart thing to do. Certainly, taking steps that prevent child abuse and
Oregon workers who earn tips are, by and large, poorly paid adults. For example, the typical waiter or waitress in
Oregon’s minimum wage falls far short of giving working families economic security, so imagine the difficulties workers face when they
Complaints that Oregon employers have violated minimum wage law arise more frequently among workers of restaurants, bars, office cleaning companies
This report is also available as a PDF: A Pathway, Not a Cliff Higher Minimum Wage Increases Economic Security and
Latest Podcasts
Oregon Child Care Crisis: How ERDC Running Out of Funds Could Hurt 12,000 Families
Oregon’s subsidized child care program, Employment Related Day Care (ERDC), is on course to run out of money in less
February 12, 2026
Underpaid, Overworked, and Essential: Oregon’s Long-Term Care Crisis
In this episode, we examine the crisis in Oregon’s system of long-term care. Demand for long-term care is rising as
January 8, 2026
Income Inequality in Oregon: What Does the Latest Data Show?
Income inequality in Oregon remains vast, but history shows this is not inevitable.
December 11, 2025