Generous benefits keep Oregon government worker pay competitive, study finds

The state of Oregon continues to pay its workers competitive compensation despite pandemic fluctuations in the labor market, thanks largely to highly subsidized health insurance and generous retirement benefits, a new analysis by the state’s human resources office has found. State workers’ average compensation as of Aug. 1, 2022, was a tiny bit more competitive than two years ago: 100.4% of the market rate, up from 100.2% in 2020. Two years ago, Oregon agencies paid workers significantly more than private employers – 103.8% – but that was tempered by even...