NIKE has certified to the state of Oregon that more than 2,000 new full-time equivalent employees have been hired since January 1, 2012. This satisfies an agreement made with the state of Oregon to hire at least 500 full time equivalent employees by the end of 2016 as part of rules adopted in the 2012 Special Legislative Session to support NIKE’s headquarters expansion.
“NIKE has gone above and beyond our expectations by expanding its workforce by far more than was asked of them,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “NIKE’s commitment to economic prosperity here in the state is made clear by the investment the company is making in both existing and new employees.”
The state and NIKE entered into the agreement to provide certainty and support for the company’s expansion in Oregon. The certification on new hiring is the latest step NIKE has taken to report on its investment. In 2013, NIKE submitted steps it had taken on its expansion, including on hiring. Since then, the company’s plans have become more ambitious, and NIKE’s presence as a major, high-wage employer in Oregon will continue to grow.
As part of the certification process, NIKE provided representatives from the Governor’s Office and the Oregon Department of Revenue the opportunity to review supporting documentation and sample random employment records.
On January 1, 2012, NIKE had 6,625 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees at its Oregon World Headquarters facilities, excluding NIKE’s in-house manufacturing, retail field, and temporary and seasonal employees. As of September 30, 2014, NIKE employed 8,709 FTEs at its Oregon World Headquarters facilities with the same exclusions. The increase of 2,084 FTEs is four times the hiring requirement of 500 FTEs by December 31, 2016.
