Avakian Statement on Oregon's Newest Unemployment Numbers

Labor Commissioner says Oregon has skill gap as well as job shortage.

Photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - According to the Employment Department, unemployment stayed essentially unchanged at 11.0% in Oregon last month, despite a net gain of 2,900 jobs in seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll.

As Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and the state’s Apprenticeship and Training Division, as well as a member of the Oregon Green Jobs Council, Brad Avakian plays a key role in the state’s workforce development system. Commissioner Avakian made this statement:

“Smart workforce investments are the key to Oregon’s economic health. Oregon’s slow economic recovery highlights the renewed effort we must make to train workers in the specific skills that employers are demanding. Investing in public education and job training programs will help create the workforce that existing employers and emerging industries are looking for in Oregon.”

BOLI defends the rights of workers and citizens to equal, nondiscriminatory treatment in workplaces, housing and public accommodations and encourages and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment.

The bureau also partners with business and labor organizations to build a skilled workforce in Oregon and trains employers to understand and comply with civil rights and other labor and employment laws.