Oregon businesses reported 39,400 vacancies in winter 2015, an increase of 6,600 vacancies from the prior year. The growing number of vacancies reflects the strengthening labor market across Oregon in the past year. The average hourly wage offered for job vacancies in winter 2015 was the highest in the two-year history of the quarterly Oregon Job Vacancy Survey. The overall average wage was $17.53. That’s up about $1.50 from the average of $16.05 in winter 2014. Employers report fewer low-wage job vacancies and more high-wage vacancies. This combination is raising the average offered wage. A year ago, 61 percent of the job vacancies offered a starting wage below $15 per hour. That share is now down to just 34 percent. A year ago, 4,200 job vacancies offered at least $25 per hour. Now more than 5,000 job vacancies offer at least $25 per hour.
