Oregon Business Association

July 10, 2008

Immigration Reform - Business Begins to Find its Voice

OBA Provides Perspective on the Diverse Needs of Oregon Employers.

From Three Mile Canyon Farms, Oregon's largest agricultural operation to The Standard Insurance Company, that recruits many of its actuaries from Canadian universities through the federal visa program, OBA members desire a rational conversation about immigration and meeting the workforce needs of our employers.

OBA participated in a media roundtable and editorial board meeting along with other members of the Coalition for a Working Oregon (CWO).  The event, covered by television and print media from around the state, provided the opportunity for CWO to release a new study that predicts potential disruption to Oregon's economy.

Click here to view the KOIN news coverage.

The study, conducted by William Jaeger, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at Oregon State University, is entitled Potential Economic Impacts in Oregon of Implementing Proposed Department of Homeland Security "No Match" Immigration Rules.  The report details possible economic consequences in Oregon resulting from a proposed "No Match" rule, a federal regulation designed to identify and eliminate undocumented workers in the U.S. workforce.

"The potential ramifications for Oregon's economy are significant and could cause a loss of 173,500 jobs in the short-term, or 7.7% of Oregon's workforce along with a reduction in statewide annual production of up to $17.7 billion," said Dr. Jaeger.

The Coalition for a Working Oregon is the first consolidated effort by Oregon employers to create support for a measured and sensible approach to comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level.

Oregon Business Association will continue to represent our industry-diverse, state-wide members within the coalition of employers and work to protect Oregon's long term economic vitality.