Oregon is expected to add about 265,000 new jobs between now and 2031. That’s according to an analysis released on Thursday by the Oregon Employment Department.
That would represent a 13% increase.
Job openings at places like restaurants and hotels are expected to grow the fastest, said Sarah Cunningham, a projection economist for the agency.
The Oregon Employment Department is projecting a 13% growth in jobs by 2031
Chris Lehman/KLCC
“Because of the recovery from big pandemic-recession losses, many of the fastest-growing occupations are associated with jobs in leisure and hospitality,” she said. “In fact, ten of the top 20 fastest are associated with the industry.”
The second-higher growth sector is projected to be the healthcare industry.
The outlook is bleaker for some occupations, said Cunningham.
“Some of the bigger losses are expected to occur for newspapers and book publishers, telecommunications, paper manufacturing and business support services like call centers or travel agencies,” she predicted.
The areas of the state predicted to have a higher-than-average number of job openings are central Oregon and the Portland metro area. The areas with the slowest growth are expected to be six rural eastern Oregon counties, as well as southwest Oregon.