Despite the recent state unemployment ratings, Portland’s still making bank. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, those who actually are employed in the city are making 6 percent more money than the national average. While most Americans are making an average of $21.35 an hour, we are raking in $22.58 an hour. Health practitioners in particular are making $5.78 more an hour than the national average and management occupations are the highest paid in the area at $49.78 an hour. Woo hoo!
This news pairs nicely with the upcoming holiday, as Labor Day was first recognized in Oregon. The “workingman’s holiday”, this end-o-summer vacation was made legal on February 1887. Oregon’s move quickly became national.
Here’s a photo of a 1911 labor day parade in Medford, OR.:
- Medford Mail Tribune
- Waiter and Waitress Union is a crowd favorite
Looks like our commitment to treating our workers right translates to the 21st century.
“While most Americans are making an average of $21.35 an hour, we are raking in $21.35 an hour.”
This doesn’t seem right.
Now show us the breakdown between % of government employees and private sector.
WE’RE ABOVE AVERAGE WOOOOO
Doesn’t mean a lot unless you compare it to the cost of living, which I’m certain is more here than somewhere like rural Kansas.
From OR Dept. of Revenue (http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/STATS/statistics…)
Share of All Oregon Tax Revenue, FY 2010 (Perceived)
4%: Worthless Layabouts
96%: D
FY 2012 Spending of $35.5B Budget (Perceived Projected)
$1B: Implement HB 4053 (Sex Changes for Children)
$10.5B: Giveaways to Corrupt Unions Initiative
$24B: Blowjobs for Hippies Program
$0B: Things for D
This is probably attributable to a higher minimum wage than the rest of the country.
It could be our tech sector jobs too. It could be a lot of things. It could also be dumb luck. It’s only 6%.