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

Already alarming, hunger in Oregon is set to worsen due to Trump administration actions
In this episode of Policy for the People, we examine the dire state of hunger in Oregon. Our guest is
May 8, 2025

May Day special: the state of the labor movement
In celebration of May Day, International Workers Day, we are issuing this special episode of Policy for the People examining
May 1, 2025

Senator Wyden on the Trump tax plan: “It’s going to cause a lot of hardship”
The Trump tax plan would cut Medicaid and nutrition assistance to pay for big tax cuts for the rich.
April 10, 2025
Latest economic forecast confirms need for more federal relief