Oregon skilled trade workers flee to neighboring states amid unemployment

Oregon is experiencing a crisis in skilled trades as union members migrate to neighboring states like Idaho, Nevada, and California due to a lack of work. Robert Camarillo, executive secretary of the Oregon Building Trades Unions, informed the House Interim Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade that the state is losing members to out-of-state projects.

Oregon’s unemployment rate is currently tied for the second highest in the nation at 5.2%. Among trade union members, such as electricians and carpenters, unemployment rates are significantly higher, with some locals exceeding 20%. Preliminary state data from the first quarter of 2026 indicates that employment in these specialty fields has declined by approximately 5% compared to the previous year.

The situation has created political tension for Governor Tina Kotek. Following voter backlash regarding the environmental, noise, and cost impacts of data centers, both Kotek and Republican opponent Christine Drazan have called for a statewide moratorium on new data center projects, reversing their previous stances.