Chair Taylor, Vice-Chair Bonham, and Members of the Committee, My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center
Unemployment
Unemployment
Latest Articles
The recession triggered by the COVID-19 crisis has hammered Oregon’s undocumented workers — workers who more likely than not perform
The number of children seeking food at the Kids Korner, a food pantry in Bend, has nearly doubled this this
One of the main engines that has kept the economy moving — that has prevented greater suffering during the coronavirus
The City Club of Eugene held an online forum titled "What We Know (and What We Don't Know) About Post-Coronavirus
With tens of thousands of laid-off Oregonians still waiting for their first Unemployment Insurance (UI) check, advocates are calling on
Every crisis, no matter the depths of despair, creates a new opportunity. And the most impactful way to seize that
With some changes, Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program can help Oregonians better cope with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The virus
Although Oregon’s unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades, not every aspect of the state’s labor market
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

Latest economic forecast confirms need for more federal relief