More Oregonians are having a hard time putting food on the table. Among all states, Oregon recorded the second biggest
Poverty & Inequality
Poverty & Inequality
Latest Articles
Despite half a decade of economic recovery, too many Oregonians still struggle to make ends meet.
A View of the State of Working Oregon For the typical Oregonian, economic progress is a distant memory. More than
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a stirring call to end racial segregation, was also a
Work is not a sure path out of poverty. The official poverty line, based on a formula developed in the
Economic growth in recent years has done little to reduce the share of Oregonians living in poverty. Oregon’s poverty rate
Nine out of 10 poor Oregon Latino families with children had at least one parent in the family who worked
Work, sadly, is by no means a ticket out of poverty — a fact that is particularly true for Oregon
Often I am asked, “What can we do to address income inequality?” There are a number of good ideas for
Latest Podcasts

Oregon Child Care Crisis: How ERDC Running Out of Funds Could Hurt 12,000 Families
Listen to prior episodes of the show Follow Policy for the People on your favorite podcast app Transcript
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
