Chart du jour: Oregon's low-wage workers

Nearly 380,000 Oregon workers, or roughly 17% of the workforce, make less than $17 per hour, according to data from Oxfam, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

Why it matters: Under Oregon's tiered wage system, the most recent increase that went into effect last month brought the Portland metro area's minimum wage to $15.95 an hour.

• Those in urban counties now earn a base pay of $14.70, while those in rural communities make $13.70.

Context: Oxfam revised its definition of a low-wage worker this year, from those earning less than $15 an hour to those earning less than $17.

The big picture: The national average of people earning less than $17 an hour is 23%.

• Wages nationally are higher now partly because of inflation, and a strong labor market where lower-wage employees are still in high demand.
• But it's also due to the work of advocates who pushed for minimum wage increases for more than a decade.

Zoom in: The report shows wage disparities for women and people of color too.

• 21% of working women make below $17 per hour in Oregon compared to 14% of working men.
• 24% of Black and 26% of Hispanic workers in the state make below $17 per hour, compared to about 17% of white workers.
• 16% of Asian American and American Indian workers make below $17 per hour.