A University of Oregon study found growth in hiring as well as in construction and manufacturing.
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
A University of Oregon study found growth in hiring as well as in construction and manufacturing.
The report said December was a particularly good month for the state as hiring increased as gas prices plummeted — driving up consumer confidence.
OregonLive.com reported on the university’s findings:
Those factors boosted the Oregon Measure of Economic Activity, one of the two gauges tracked by the UO. It takes into account more than 20 data points, from residential building permits to first-time unemployment claims. When the result is higher than zero, it suggests the economy is growing faster than normal.
That was the case as in the final months of 2014. The measure improved to an average reading of 0.98 during the three months ending in December. It had been 0.52, on average, from September through November.
As the economy is improving, advocates for paid sick days have renewed their push to lawmakers.
OregonLive.com reported on the pair of bills in Salem:
Portland-area legislators and a coalition of labor and nonprofit organizations are leading the effort to make Oregon part of a national movement to require paid sick leave. If successful, Oregon would become the fourth state to offer paid sick leave to all employees. Portland and Eugene are among 15 U.S. cities with such laws.
Business groups representing both large and small employers mostly have expressed concern and opposition, while Senate Republicans have said they prefer to develop new tax credits to help small businesses offer paid family and sick leave to their employees.
