Oregon Languishes in 48th Position of National Median Earnings

Oregon is languishing in the 48^th position of all the states with one of the lowest median earnings in the country at $50,100, a staggering 50% lower than Washington DC where average median earnings are $100,400.

Pay Levels Did Increase by 5.8%

However, Oregon’s median pay levels reflect a 5.8% increase, even though the national average earnings are $59,200 – $9,100 higher than those paid by the Beaver State.

These findings are revealed in a report by the ADP Research Institute, a global labor market and employee performance research company. The report analyzes facts based on input from 10 million workers countrywide who remained in their employment positions over 12 months.

Construction Workers Were the Biggest Winners

Breaking down the data into job categories, the report shows that the construction industry offered the biggest pay increases with annual incomes of $70,300, a 5.2% increase through November.

Second in line was Education and Health Services at $47,700 (5.1%), followed by those employed in financial activities at $68,800 (5%).

Employment trends showed that workers who remained in their posts for the last year earned an average median increase of 4.8%, while those obtaining new positions enjoyed a 7.2% rise, the first time in more than two years that pay gains have shown an increase.

Demand for Workers Remains Buoyant

Despite a national slowdown in hiring rates, the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) shows that employer demand for workers remains strong. JOLTS reveals an increase in job vacancy ads in October, following a three-and-a-half-year low reflected the previous month – an affirmation that the demand for workers remains buoyant.

Also, the JOLTS statistics show that layoffs slowed to 1.6 million, and a current unemployment rate of 4.1% remains unchanged.

The data provided by these two sources could be a call to action for Oregon workgivers who may have to increase pay levels to match national trends to keep their workers when the economy stabilizes.