The Oregon Employment Department says rapid hiring in 2021 to replace jobs lost during the pandemic, increased job vacancies to record levels. According to a report released last week, at any point in time during 2021, employers had 97,000 job openings. Unemployment significantly declined, and employers faced hiring challenges including a lack of applicants. The Employment Department says employers raised wages to entice new applicants, offering $19.69 an hour… that’s 4% higher than in 2020. The job opportunities are plentiful for Oregon workers across all parts of Oregon’s economy in more than 430 different occupations.