Study: Portlanders choose to work less, earn less
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Is Portland really “where young people go to retire?”
The famous quote from Portlandia may not be a total exaggeration after all.
A study on Portland jobs released Tuesday by the Portland Business Alliance claims adults in the Metro area choose to work less.
In the last 15 years, Portland’s per capita income went from four percent above the U.S. average to four percent below. College-educated workers earn about ten percent less than the national average, according to the study.
The study focuses on white, college-educated men because they are easier to compare across U.S. metro areas, the Portland Business Alliance said.
“Ever since our first economic study revealed this disturbing relative decline in our region’s per capita income, we’ve been attempting to identify both the cause and solution for the decline,” Portland Business Alliance Chair Dennis Rawlinson said in a news release.
“This new study gives us some answers about the cause of the decline, but more importantly, it sounds the alarm for strategic policy-making that retains and grows jobs in our region,” he added.
But does the study mean that Portland’s over-educated, under-employed workers are slackers? 35-year-old barista Vernon Shepard says no.
“I thought I was going to teach English,” said Shepard, who has an undergraduate degree in music and a graduate degree in education.
So why has he worked at Palio Dessert and Espresso House for the last six years?
“Pursue your passions,” he said. “We have so many messages in our culture today, that don’t really support, I think, kids pursuing what really interests them.”
His passion is to compose and rehearse music with his band. Shepard said the money’s tight, but he gets to do what he loves most.
“One of the things I like about Portland, there’s a lot of people seeking quality of life. Part of that is finding a balance between work and, you know, other things.”
Hey... it's the European way of life that obama wants us to live. work less and enjoy life. You can see how well that attitude is working for the European Countries....
Why do I get the feeling the same people who "pursue your passions" are also the same ones showing up at the "free healthcare" and the "everyone should be entitled to the same stuff regardless of income" rallies. If you want to be like the French I say move to France.Â
Portland is the pan-handler capitol of the west coast, so of course the income is below average. Only the weirdos in Portland will try to justify that by saying it's something special.
Gen-Y is making its mark on the world, one latte at a time.
That guy must have a medical card
Hey, there are many of us out here that don't work hard but make a ton of money. Â Don't forget about us.
No one talked to ME about this before the "story" came out.
I know my husband is working over 50 hours a week, his employer is paying him for 40, no overtime, no holidays, no paid time off. It's not a 'choice' it's what he can find right now. The economy SUCKS, people.
@AmiMÂ Your husband is either over worked or actually has a GF on the side.
@Fake Pilot Thanks dear... we're both over 50. Married 32 years. About 20 years ago we figured out that no one else would have either one of us.
No, he's just working for a company he helped build. When the depression hit, his salary was cut. Then cut again. We've lost about 24 grand over the past three years just in salary cuts. He's overworked, underpaid, not appreciated by the people he works for, and in case you haven't noticed, the job market isn't all that great right now. Of course we're 'too rich' for any kind of help. And too stubborn to take it anyway.
Can they even afford to pay the art tax?
That's fine, just don't expect me to pay for all the things you and your offspring can't afford because you wanted to seek your passions instead of a better paying career.
@Scotty9Â Oh you'll pay alright and so will the rest of us hard working stiffs. My property taxes continue to rise with every bond measure and levy you can dream of to support every whim and group that already can't manage their budgets and want more to blow. On top of that we need to support the growing number of illegals, un-employed artists with artist tax now (their goes their tips at the barista I guesss). Yes, you will pay and you will pay dearly! You thought your wife's shopping spree was bad, think again.....
@MLB123Â @Scotty9 Go live in Wheeler county, I hear the property taxes are real low there.
10 years from now they will be working at walmart in gresham as the next generation of hipsters displaces them. nature can be cruel
How in the world do they afford the Portland water and sewer bills?
@Saltire They don't shower.
@Saltire Spange.
Portland has had these intellectuals for a long time who can't quite fit in downtown and never get the good jobs.Â
They essentially give up and pretend it is a choice. They could move to the suburbs and get a haircut and have a completely different life (more positive). They don't give it a chance. They think they won't fit in.
Sure they will. And then they will see how much fun it is to earn enough to have extra money and buy nicer things, go on vacations and keep up with their peers.
@Lei22 Now there's a goal in life, keep up with their peers. Would that include a divorce, second and/or trofee wife?
@Lei22Â its a good thing that worthless people that judge others by their own warped standards are kept in a jar
Get rid of gaming consoles that would be a big help, well on the kids and younger generation..
When I was leaving the Job Corp, jobs in forestry were in a decline as they were. So places like the Job Corp and such need to better educate the young adults firmly planted in a job before Saying , "ok here ya go, forestry job waiting fer ya or the millitary job all in wait fer ya.." I fell for the military promise only to be robbed of a chance in a forestry job.
The job Corp new I had bad knees.. But Doyal Amous served to "rectify the paper work" to give me the "white picket fence". all my dreams an hopes shattered in one fell swoop. Re 4 with Erroneous/uncharacteristise . Â
and because of that, I never could get a real job.. Thank much Uncle SOB Sam.
At any rate had a second knee surgery that wiped me out for any kind of work that required long periods of standing.
I was on SSI at 15 years of age.. went back on it at 20.. Only this time some weird thing happened as I was received SSA under a deceased biological father. Which confused me further.Got marreied got knocked to SSDI, then Got my SSA Back.. under my adopted father...
You think this story I told you is some foolish nonsense? Well I'll leave that up you.
But you all know the point system right? For gaining SSA as a disabled person right?Â
So many points for so many years one works. if, some one has met the minimum points then become disabled, then yes, they can retire early.
But then hay what do I know??? I only been in the system sense I was 15.
@lee986321Â Would you please stop.
@trolololÂ
If you knew @lee986321 you might appreciate how funny and naive is that question/request . Lee is the Chuck Norris of KATU blogs; she never stops.
@trololol @lee986321 I knew I would get a reaction from ya.
@lee986321 @trolololso you one of those government leeches your conservative republicon brethren always talk about? interesting
@lee986321 @trololol and suddenly you can speak.... You seem very intelligent, why not try to make your points based on that, vs what you normally do.  Hell, I agree with you a lot of the time.
@trololol @lee986321 Pleas stop? what is it I am doing? stating an obvious fact? and why does it bug you so much?
 are you really that blind ?
The study fails to mention why people take the lesser jobs an make lesser monies, less monies mean fewer taxes. fewer taxes means fewer worries.Â
So people are no longer interested in property and wealth.. what is wrong with that? maybe people are sick and tired of seeing all the crap that goes with having to much money.
Success is punished with all kinds of taxes, and failure is rewarded with entitlements.
Why bother working hard at all?
@Lo Pan No, your reward for working hard is the ABILITY and RESPONSIBILITY to pay taxes. It called being a citizen.
@dynamited77. That's telling those pesky taxpayers and job creators dyna......Why, we can't let them stand in the the way of our local airhead reggressive agenda to bankrupt the city and state.  They just don't get the mantra of "To each, according his needs, from each, according to his abilities."  Go Socialism!! Where everyone is equal........equally poor.......
@Lo PanÂ
You do have a point there. Obama is hating the successful, so in all liberal enclaves, the lazy are the envied.
(Although, if the liberal followers of Obama really look at him, they will see he has made about $7 million since taking office. He even referred to the lazy in one speech. He called them a name.) But they follow him anyway, because the other party has even less sympathy.Â
Why of course they don't want to work as hard, there getting Obama bucks and free cell phones. So many Liberals here in the Northwest were starting to look like San Francisco. Free food, lodging, medical, why would anyone want to work, let the government take care of me. Keep voting for Liberals cause they love me. What a bunch of loosers.Â
@Don Free lodging??? where does a single man find such a thing? under a bridge? Free Food? the max a single man can is on food stamps is 215 bucks a month or 7.11 a day, that's hardly enough to live on. Free medical???? IF you can get on free medical, the max you can make a month is 931.00 or 11,115.00 a year. YUP there are just so many FREE benefits out there, why should any of us  work?
@DonÂ
They have no pride.Â
If young people are truly "living life as they want" then why are so many on food stamps and other publicly funded programs like unemployment?
Sorry, but I worked with the poor and I've heard everything.Â
What I think is that these people CAN'T get a decent-paying job and just tell reporters that it is a choice.
Many of these types will roll along and then fall on worse times, have no money to fall back on and then try to go on welfare.
I don't think it is that great for people in their 30's to coast.Â
If they don't have children, they still could end up at the public trough - there are many unknowns.Â
If you don't like your job, find another one. But, don't settle for a job as a barista.Â
For one thing, your family will be embarrassed.
@Lei22 Working and paying your bills, why is that an embarrassment? The man in the picture does not own a house, aka, no mortgage and therefore no debt!
There has definitely been a downward shift in the motivation to not only succeed but to excel. I have no problem with people following their passion and also agree that money is not the key to happiness. However I also believe if people want to follow their passion it should not be a my, and other taxpayers, expense in the form of food stamps, health care, rent subsidy, and thousands of other handout programs. If they are paying their way in life, more power to them.Â
@I812 tell that to all the middle class getting food stamps..LOL We don't get food stamps..funny how I have a video on how all middle calss qualify for food stamps under tanif and some new thing.
do people look at their comments and think "man that was stupid"??? I hope people on here do because many of the comments of here are completely unrelated to this story. a guy who has held a job at a restaurant for the past six years is considered lazy???
@GNTLwarriorÂ
Yes.Â
@Lei22 @GNTLwarrior but why, he seems to be doing fine. is it because he doesn't fit into your vision of how someone should live their life?
@GNTLwarrior @Lei22 Yes.
How come spoiled-rotten kids, who ALMOST HAVE A DEGREE, with TRUST FUNDS are considered "SUCCESSFUL" & "COOL", but actual PhD's working 4 jobs to pay for rent & that PhD are not?
@August100Â Money talks. Is your PhD the "push here dummy" type
@tally @August100 I have a PhD (pretty huge dick).
For the record: I only have a Bachelor degrees at San Francisco State University...and my wife paid for that...I'M being honest!
@August100Â SFSU failed you then. Â Most college grads know not to beat their caps lock/shift keys to death.
I WAS NOT EVER A SPOILED ROTTEN KID!
If he had a teaching job, he could go on tour with his band.