Category Business
BUSINESS ROUNDUP: New Covid regulations, empty box retailer for sale, Santiam Canyon rebuilding update, get stimulated and safety training en Español
Masks and protective gear are part of the job as laborers in essential fields continue working. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) There’s a lot going on business. To help keep you up to speed, the Salem Reporter has launched a semi-regular roundup of business-related items that includes…
Salem’s unemployment rate has followed state and nation trends. But the numbers tell a deeper story
Employment in the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area has stayed close to trends in Oregon and the U.S. (Pam Ferrara) Salem’s unemployment rate declined in September to 7.8%, closely tracking Oregon and U.S. unemployment rates (see graph). These rates track closely because the mix of industries…
Salem area adding back jobs at a slower pace
A closed sign at American Eagle at Salem Center. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) The Salem area’s unemployment barely budged last month, according to numbers from the Oregon Employment Department released Tuesday. In September, the unemployment rate for the Salem area was 7.8%, slightly down from…
After over a quarter-century, new owner takes over at Salem Art Department
Jessica Ramey (left), the new owner of the Art Department, with Katy and Jim Vigeland who sold the business to her. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) After spending decades working jobs to pay the bills, Jessica Ramey has found her happy ending. On Sept. 30, Katy and…
Salem nonprofits, hit by pandemic, adjust services and budgets to get by
Michelle Cordova, executive director of the Willamette Heritage Center, stands outside the center’s buildings. She said that normally it would be packed but has been empty because of the pandemic. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Michelle Cordova stood in the middle of the red-brick historic buildings at…
BUSINESS ROUNDUP: A second look at workers’ comp, Electric Alley and agricultural grants
Electric Alley in downtown Salem on Thursday, September 3. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) There’s a lot going on business. To help keep you up to speed, the Salem Reporter is launching a semi-regular roundup of business-related items including new business openings, locations, grant opportunities and others.…
COLUMN: Numbers reveal how low-wage workers hit hardest by the pandemic
A graph of the average annual all-industry wages of several areas in Oregon. (Courtesy/Pam Ferrara) The Salem area unemployment rate came down by a bit more than a percentage point from June to July, a smaller drop than the three points from May to June.…
Salem area unemployment rate drops, yet remains high
In July 35 of Oregon’s 36 counties saw drops in their unemployment rates, including Polk and Marion counties. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department) In another signal that the economy is rebounding, the unemployment rate for the Salem area has dropped for the third month in a row.…
PHOTOS: Hard times on display as long lines form for $500 relief checks
It took about 48-hours for the state to run out of funds for a program meant to help Oregonians struggling because of the pandemic. Wednesday morning legislative leaders announced that banks and credit unions across the state would begin distributing one-time $500 payments from federal…