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Employment Department: Agency Subdivisions

Unemployment Insurance Division

Address: PO Box 14135 Salem, 97309-5068 
Phone: 877-345-3484
Email: Send an email using this form
Web: unemployment.oregon.gov
Contact: Lindsi Leahy, Director
Communications Officer: Seth Gordon
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 657

Unemployment insurance benefits replace part of the income lost when workers become unemployed through no fault of their own. The division pays benefits to eligible claimants, decides eligibility issues and discourages fraud.

The money used to pay Oregon unemployment insurance benefits comes from Oregon employers’ state payroll taxes, which are deposited in a trust fund to pay unemployed Oregon workers.

Contributions and Recovery Division

Phone: 503-947-1488
875 Union St. NE, Salem, 97311  
Email: oed.contributions.and.recovery.division@employ.oregon.gov
Web: oregon.gov/employ/businesses 
Contact: Nate Stevens, Director

The Oregon Employment Department’s Contributions and Recovery Division manages payroll tax reporting in Oregon. Oregon employer payroll taxes help fund Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance and Paid Leave Oregon programs.

Workforce and Economic Research Division

Address: 875 Union St. NE, Salem 97311
Phone: 503-947-1299
Web: QualityInfo.org
Contact: Bob Uhlenkott, Director
Statutory Authority: ORS 657657.601

The division’s economists, workforce analysts and researchers collect, analyze and disseminate statewide and regional labor market information. They help organizations and businesses apply that information in their day-to-day operations.

Analysts provide concise, up-to-date information about the local and state economies and their effects on the workforce. Research staff study the labor force and related topics, supply data and analysis to new and expanding firms and analyze occupational supply and demand.

Workforce Operations Division

Address: 875 Union St. NE, Salem 97311
Phone: 503-947-1655
Contact: Jim Pfarrer, Director
Statutory Authority: ORS 657.601

This division helps Oregon businesses find qualified candidates and supports job seekers from diverse backgrounds including veterans, people with disabilities, individuals who've been incarcerated and those experiencing long-term unemployment. The division also connects businesses to hiring incentives such as tax credits and training reimbursements.

Through partnerships with local boards, community colleges, state agencies and economic development organizations, Workforce Operations promotes job readiness and supports employment services statewide. It also oversees programs designed to serve certain groups such as veterans, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, and workers affected by foreign trade.

Employment Appeals Board

Address: 875 Union St. NE, Salem 97311
Phone: 503-378-2077
Web: appealsboard@employ.oregon.gov
Contact: Sarah Serres, Chair
Statutory Authority: ORS 183, 657.10 and 657.685

The Governor appoints the three-member board to review orders issued in contested unemployment insurance claims cases. The board has the authority to affirm, modify, reverse, or remand for additional evidence the orders of administrative law judges at the Office of Administrative Hearings. Final written decisions of the board are subject to review by the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Employment Department Advisory Council

Address: 875 Union St. NE, Salem 97311
Phone: 971-304-5762
Web: oregon.gov/employ/Pages/Oregon-Advisory-Council.aspx
Contact: Sravya Tadepalli
Statutory Authority: ORS 657.695

The Governor appoints the council, which includes volunteer representatives from the public, employers, and employees. Council members meet quarterly to assist the Oregon Employment Department director with policies and programs related to unemployment insurance, employment services, and labor market information. 

Paid Leave Oregon

Address: 875 Union St. NE, Salem 97311
Phone: 833-854-0166
Contact form: paidleave.oregon.gov/contact-paid-leave-oregon
Web: paidleave.oregon.gov

Contact: Juan Serratos, Acting Director
Statutory Authority: ORS 657

Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off to care for themselves and their families. Employees can take paid leave to care for a family member; bond with a new child; complete necessary activities before adopting a child or having a foster care child join their home; take care of themselves when they have a serious health condition; and seek treatment, safe housing, or other needs as survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, bias crimes, or stalking.  

Both employees and employers pay contributions to the Paid Leave Oregon Trust fund through payroll taxes. Each year in November, the Oregon Employment Department sets the contribution rate, which may be up to 1% of an employee’s total gross wages.