Over the past decade, Oregon has earned a reputation—one not built on innovation or resilience, but on slow decline. What began as subtle warning signs has become a full-blown unraveling of the state’s economic foundation.
From Portland’s empty storefronts to shuttered mills in rural counties, the symptoms are now impossible to ignore. Oregon isn’t collapsing because its people stopped working hard. It’s collapsing because policy after policy, year after year, has made it harder to build, invest, hire, and stay.
The tipping point? We’re living in it.
A Decade of Disincentives
The 2010s began with optimism. Oregon’s tech sector was rising, tourism was booming, and new businesses were putting down roots. But while the surface shimmered, state leadership began layering on policies that slowly choked the environment that helped those successes grow.
Land-use restrictions, rising corporate taxes, ballooning minimum wage mandates, relentless environmental regulations, and a hands-off approach to growing public safety concerns began to compound. Instead of adapting to the needs of a modern economy, Oregon doubled down on bureaucracy.
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Fast forward to 2025, and the results are undeniable.
- Dutch Bros, a proud Oregon-born company and one of the state’s rare success stories on the national stage, is relocating its headquarters. It’s more than just a business move—it’s a signal that the climate here no longer rewards growth.
- Jeld-Wen, once a staple employer in Klamath Falls, has closed up shop. Generations of family-wage jobs vanished overnight.
- Owens Brockway, a Portland glass manufacturer operating since the Eisenhower era, shut down after nearly 70 years, leaving nearly 100 workers out of work.
- Tektronix, which once stood as Oregon’s largest employer and a pioneer in tech innovation, moved its headquarters to North Carolina.
- Adobe walked away from its Portland office, and Keen Footwear followed by shuttering its local factory.
- Owens Corning is laying off nearly 200 workers in Prineville, another blow to Oregon’s once-thriving manufacturing sector.
- Retail chains like REI and Target are pulling out of Oregon cities, citing crime, safety concerns, and an unworkable business environment.
- In Salem alone, Macy’s, Office Depot, and multiple restaurants have exited in the past six months.
- Even Nordstrom’s CEO has begun openly questioning how much longer they can maintain operations in Portland.
- Meanwhile, in Oregon’s rural timber towns, the story is even darker. Mills that once fueled local economies are being regulated and taxed into extinction.
And now, instead of relief, Oregon businesses are being met with yet another burden: new taxes.
The Salem-based Cherriots transit authority is proposing a payroll tax, directly targeting employers already gasping for air. At a time when our economy is desperate for stability, policymakers are reaching deeper into the pockets of job creators.
The Doom Loop Is Real
Here’s how the cycle works: Poor policy drives out businesses. Jobs disappear. Public services suffer. Crime rises. Families struggle. And instead of correcting course, the state piles on more regulations and taxes—forcing even more employers to flee. It's a self-perpetuating downward spiral.
What we’re seeing isn’t just economic—it’s psychological. Confidence in Oregon is eroding. The belief that this is a place to raise a family, retire, start a business, or build a future is fading.
And yet, none of this was inevitable. These outcomes were not the result of bad luck or forces beyond our control. They were the result of deliberate policy choices.
Leadership matters.
A Path Forward
Oregonians have never lacked grit. From our logging towns to our startup founders, this state has always been defined by people willing to roll up their sleeves and make something from nothing. But they need a government that works with them—not against them.
We need an Oregon that values small business. That respects workers and job creators alike. That prioritizes safety and sanity in its cities. That rewards innovation instead of punishing it with red tape.
This isn’t just about economics. It’s about the soul of Oregon.
We still have time to turn this around. But doing so will require something rare in state politics: humility, accountability, and the courage to change direction.
The unraveling has gone on long enough. It’s time to rebuild.
