Overview

The Oregon legislature has been busy making and revising new law and this will bring legal changes to Oregon’s employment laws. We will post a complete legal update when the current legislative session ends.

In addition to the legislative changes, the minimum wage for all regions in Oregon will increase effective July 1, 2019. The Standard minimum wage rate will increase to $11.25 per hour. The minimum wage in the Portland Metro area will be $12.50, and the rate for the Nonurban Counties will increase to $11.00 per hour. The legislature amended the Oregon minimum wage statute (ORS 653.025) in 2016 to provide for incremental yearly increases to the minimum wage rates in Oregon through June 30, 2023. Beginning July 1, 2023, all minimum wage rates will adjust yearly according to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). The Standard Oregon rate will increase yearly after that based on the CPI. The Portland Metro area’s rate will always be $1.25 over the Standard rate, and the Nonurban Counties will be $1 less than the Standard rate.

The BOLI Technical Assistance for Employers website has the complete list of minimum wage rates for all three regions through June 1, 2023, and a map so that employers can determine which region applies to their place of employment.

Employers in all regions should be prepared to apply the new minimum wage rate that applies to their place of employment on July 1, 2019.

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