Oregon’s 2018 Job Outlook

person typing on laptop

According to the Portland Business Journal’s article “What we’ve learned about our state’s employment outlook”, Oregon’s low unemployment rate at the end of 2017 signals for the beginning of 2018, “a coming bounty for job-seekers.”

If you’re looking to make a change, the outlook is very good.  More than 30 companies, such as SolarWorld, Nike, Umpqua, and OHSU, are looking for hundreds of workers.  Companies range from technology to apparel and footwear.  Positions range from quality assurance engineers to medical assistants to account managers.

Salaries in Portland were ranked against the rest of the nation in twelve jobs, such as retail, registered nurses, and civil engineers.  It was found that on average, Portlanders earned $25.94 to the nation’s $23.86 in those positions.  Registered nurses, sheet metal workers, clergy, and retail workers, amongst others, all do better in Portland than the rest of the nation.

The PBJ noted some industries that experienced the most growth: construction, mining & lodging, and manufacturing.  Some that experienced the least of amount of growth are information, government, and financial activities.

Overall, now is the time if you’re looking to make a switch.