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

She Has a Good Job. She Still Needs a Food Bank: Oregon’s Affordability Crisis
What does it mean when you have a good job, work full time, and still can’t afford to make ends
October 22, 2026

“Never Seen So Many People Lose Food Assistance So Quickly”
At a time when the cost of food and other essentials has been on the rise, our nation’s most important
October 8, 2026

Tripling Union Membership Would Transform the Nation
A big increase in union membership would go a long way in fixing what’s wrong with the economy, according to
August 13, 2026

Latest economic forecast confirms need for more federal relief