Rep. Drazan: Oregon loses jobs while nation sees growth

OREGON LOSES JOBS IN DECEMBER WHILE NATION SEES JOB GROWTH
By Oregon House Republican Office

SALEM, Ore. – On Thursday, the Oregon Employment Department announced that Oregon lost 3,700 jobs in December, raising the state’s unemployment rate to 4.1%. At the same time, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 256,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy.

“Under Gov. Kotek’s leadership, Oregon has become one of the most anti-business states in America,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). In 2024 Oregon ranked 48th for business friendliness and 49th for corporate taxes.

The largest area of job loss was in semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, which saw a total loss of 1,500 jobs. This follows Governor Kotek’s decision to give up on pursuing major semiconductor investments in the state, despite Oregon’s ample and available land and specialized workforce. Arizona, California, and New York all beat Oregon in the bidding process to house one of three major research and development sites.

“Oregon’s punitive and costly regulatory environment is killing jobs in our state and hollowing out Oregon’s manufacturing sector,” added Drazan.

In 2024 as a whole, Oregon lost the most jobs in manufacturing – a total loss of 2,500 jobs. These include 600 jobs in transportation equipment, 500 jobs in wood products, and 300 jobs in machinery. House Republicans have introduced a series of bills aimed at restoring Oregon’s image as a pro-business state that supports and favors business growth and development.

“House Republicans call on the governor to implement a moratorium on new regulations, work to reduce the tax burden on businesses, and fight for legislation that incentivizes job creation, lifts wages, and grows our economy,” concluded Drazan.