The new Prevailing Wage Rates for Public Works Contracts effective January 1, 2022 has been published online at: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/employers/Pages/prevailing-wage-rates.aspx

In the 2021 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 493. Effective January 1, 2022, SB 493 amends PWR law (ORS 269C.815) as follows:   

• The prevailing rate of wage for each locality is the wage in the collective bargaining agreement that covers that occupation.
• If more than one collective bargaining agreement covers that occupation, the highest rate of wage among the collective bargaining agreements will prevail.

The Prevailing Wage Rates for Public Works Contracts is effective January 1, 2022 and lists the prevailing wage rate for each trade or occupation in each region consistent with this new law; each region’s rates have been set by a current and bona fide collective bargaining agreement for each trade or occupation.  In instances when there was no bona fide collective bargaining agreement for a trade or occupation, the rate was established using the Oregon Employment Department’s “Construction Industry Occupational Wage Survey.” 

Due to these changes, the agency is holding two webinars for all interested parties who would like to hear more about this new law and to provide you with technical assistance on locating rates in this most recent rate book.   These webinars are free and will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 9:00am (click here to access the meeting) and Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 9:00am (click here to access the meeting). 

You may email PWR.Email@boli.oregon.gov to request a hard copy of the rate book.  Please note, the agency ordered a limited run of printed copies for this rate book.  We encourage you to reference our agency website for the most current rate information, including rate books and subsequent amendments, and will no longer publish hard copies of the rate books after this issue.  You can find all past and current rate information and other prevailing wage resources at https://www.oregon.gov/boli/employers/Pages/prevailing-wage-rates.aspx.

If you have questions, please contact Jessica Ponaman, Compliance Manager with the Wage and Hour Division, at 503-360-7292 or by email at Jessica.Ponaman@boli.oregon.gov.