State of Oregon Jobs Get Funding for Training

The local employment agency is doing its part to help workers get better State of Oregon jobs.

The Oregon Employment Department recently implemented a new program to help low-income and unemployed residents expand their skills and find better jobs. Through the program, workers who had low-wage jobs can receive unemployment benefits while going to school or retraining.

In order to qualify for the program, workers must be eligible to file an unemployment claim based on receiving a wage less than $9.24 per hour. Workers also must be attending training designed to prepare them for employment in high-demand jobs with wages of at least $9.24 per hour.

One downfall is that the program does not pay for the training or provide benefits for those in training that leads to a baccalaureate or higher degree.

"This is one of the many actions taken this legislative session to help Oregon families during this difficult time," Gov. Ted Kulongoski told The Hillsboro Argus. "This new program will help Oregonians in two critical ways - first with continued financial assistance to help meet their family's basic needs and by providing an opportunity to gain a new skill that will lead to longer term economic security."

The program, which was created by the Oregon State Legislature, will take place through Jan. 1, 2012. The Oregon Employment Department has estimated that 2,400 workers will participate in the program each year.

More trained workers could help revive Oregon's economy, which has continued to lose jobs as of late, despite a drop in unemployment.

During September, Oregon saw its unemployment rate decrease from 12 percent to 11.5 percent, following an increase from 11.8 percent during August. The state's current rate is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

Oregon had a total non-farm employment of 1,613,800 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,624,100 workers during August and a 6.1 percent decrease from last year.