A new report from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries said a “historic” $79 million investment from the legislature in 2025 means the agency will be able to lift the wage claim income threshold by the end of the year, hire more staff, reduce backlogs and begin restoring the agency to a baseline level of service.

The 2025 BOLI State of the Worker report, released Sept. 17, struck a more optimistic tone compared to the report released in 2024, citing the increased funding, but warned that lawmakers continue to pass new laws without funding more positions to enforce them.

Lawmakers approved a 30% increase in the agency's budget during the latest legislative session. BOLI said the funds would go toward reducing a significant backlog and hiring new staff to lift the wage threshold it

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