EMPLOYMENT

More than one million people travel across the metro area on a daily basis to get to work. Workers in the region are plentiful and well-educated: 33.3 percent of the region’s adult population (those aged 25 and over) have a bachelor college degree or higher level of education.

Source: Oregon Employment Department, 2010

Oregon’s minimum wage has remained at $8.40 per hour since January 2009. Washington’s rate of $8.55 is the nation’s highest. Regional leaders are preparing to meet future labor demands prompted by retiring baby boomers and focus on improving regional training opportunities.