Economy
We live in a data rich world where much of our life is measured, ranked, and quantified. If you have kids, you know that one of the first things the doctors and nurses do in the hospital after the birth of your child is to measure their weight and length. To provide context to those…
Read MoreThe Oregon Economic Development Agency (OEDA) has launched a new program to help boost rural businesses across the state. The program, called the Rural Business Development Program, is aimed at providing funding and support to small businesses in rural communities that have been hit hard by the economic challenges of the past few years. The…
Read MoreCORVALLIS— In a small laboratory on HP’s Corvallis campus, a group of Oregon State University graduates are producing a chemical that will make semiconductor chips smaller, lighter and more efficient to produce. The company, Inpria, was born out of an Oregon State University professor’s research group about 15 years ago. Now, it has 60 employees,…
Read MoreThe risk of a recession, at least in the near term, has lessened in recent months as inflation has slowed. Yet inflation is still well above the Federal Reserve’s target rate, and the nation remains in the midst of an inflationary economic boom. At this point in the economic cycle, it’s unclear whether the Fed…
Read MoreEXECUTIVE SUMMARY March 2023 Either the economic storm clouds have parted, or we are in the eye of the hurricane. Any near-term recession fears are fading with each month of somewhat lower inflation and the continued economic boom. However, the Federal Reserve must still navigate the choppy waters of a tight labor market, fast wage…
Read MoreThe private-sector computer systems design industry lost 500 jobs (-3%) during the pandemic recession. Although that is a significant loss of jobs, it pales in comparison to job losses during the high-tech recession of 2001 when Oregon’s computer system design industry shed 3,500 jobs from 2000 to 2003, 30% of its workforce. On the good…
Read MoreBusiness Oregon is now accepting applications for the new Business Oregon Venture (BOV) Fund Program under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program. Due to the nature of the venture capital industry and SSBCI program guidelines, Business Oregon will be accepting and reviewing BOV Fund Program applications on a rolling basis. The first deadline…
Read MoreInternal Shifts Focused on Building Solid Infrastructure for OSF’s Future to Address Structural Deficits, Aligning Budget to Post-Pandemic Industry Realities, and Supporting a Future-Focused Vision for the Theatre Field ASHLAND, Ore. (January 11, 2023) – As part of a restructuring strategy aimed at aligning its business model with its vision and realities of the post-pandemic…
Read MoreContinuing a forty-year presence in Japan, Business Oregon announces its new representative to lead Oregon’s Japanese Representative Office and represent the state of Oregon’s business and trade interests in Japan. Masao Kumori will lead Oregon’s team in Japan. Masao has worked with more than 70 major Japanese companies on global investment opportunities and represented North…
Read MoreBy Guy Tauer, Oregon Regional Economist, Coos, Curry, Jackson, and Josephine counties New data from a Dean Runyan Associates study for the Oregon Tourism Commission shows that total direct travel spending in Oregon fell by 48.5% in 2020 compared with 2019 totals. Preliminary data for 2021 show that the travel economy recovered much of the…
Read MoreIn Rapidly Changing Economy, Business Leaders Pivot as Inflation, Workforce Transformation Test Resiliency Small Businesses Act with Sense of Urgency, Ready for Significant Changes 73% rank inflation as a top concern 90% impacted by soaring costs of goods Middle Market Companies Zero-in on Impacts of Labor Shortage, Cybersecurity 72% having difficulty finding talent 45% have…
Read MoreCoos County total payroll employment fell by 70 jobs in April. Job losses were estimated inlocal government education (-90); professional and business services (-30); andtransportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20). General merchandise stores (-20) and local government excluding education and tribal (-20) also shed a few jobs over the month. The only notable gain was in…
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