Oregon’s building trades face 20% unemployment as jobs dry up
Oregon's building trades unions are facing over 20% unemployment in some areas, leading to workers leaving the state for jobs elsewhere. This crisis is attributed to a backlash against data center developments, prompting Governor Tina Kotek and her opponent to call for a statewide moratorium on new projects.
Robert Camarillo, executive secretary of the Oregon Building Trades Unions, informed the House Interim Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade that many of his 50,000 members are leaving Oregon for other states like Idaho, Nevada, and California due to a severe lack of work. He described the situation as a "crisis," noting that unemployment among skilled trade union members exceeds 20% in some locals, significantly higher than the state's overall 5.2% unemployment rate.
The timing of this workforce exodus is particularly sensitive for Governor Tina Kotek. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48, a key part of the Oregon Building Trades Unions, had contributed a record $400,000 to her reelection campaign in late June. Just two months later, facing public and voter backlash over the environmental, noise, and cost impacts of data centers, both Governor Kotek and her Republican challenger, Christine Drazan, reversed their earlier stances and advocated for a statewide moratorium on new data center projects. This shift highlights the political pressure exerted by the unions and public sentiment regarding data center expansion in the state.