Greater Portland's Workforce Development & Talent Pool
A growing and talented workforce supports Greater Portland’s diverse economy. Over 1.3 million eligible workers support businesses across various industries, including apparel and outdoors, clean tech and computers and electronics, while the talent pool continues to expand.
A high quality of life and a designation as one of the best cities to live on the West Coast, combined with several universities, such as the University of Oregon just south, make Greater Portland a hotspot for attracting qualified talent. Nearly 40% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree, well above the national average.
Large companies, small businesses and new startups can take advantage of Greater Portland's workforce population. Highly skilled and ready to meet the needs of today and tomorrow, Greater Portland’s talent is ready to get to work.
The Portland Metro area has a dynamic workforce of over 1.3 million professionals ready to fuel your business growth. The Greater Portland, Oregon, workforce is highly educated and supports over 100,000 diverse businesses. This diverse landscape of industries fosters innovation and opportunities for new career pathways and on-the-job training. Established companies like Nike and universities like the University of Oregon create the perfect mix of seasoned experts and fresh talent.
Whether your business is looking for young people to occupy entry-level positions or internships or offering advanced work opportunities, Portland is ready to help you meet your talent needs.
Continued Talent Growth Through Higher Education
As the Greater Portland population grows, so does the talent pool. Between Oregon and Washington, you’ll find strong community college networks, higher education institutions and targeted workforce development efforts supply a highly educated workforce compared to the national average. Over 515,000 Oregonians have at least a bachelor’s degree and nearly 300,000 have advanced graduate degrees.
Workforce development isn’t exclusive to getting a degree. Many organizations and workforce development programs for upskilling employees with certifications or industry-specific classes exist. Worksystems and the Portland Workforce Alliance aim to help talent develop meaningful skills and awareness of employment opportunities. Other organizations, such as the Urban League of Portland, work more exclusively with underrepresented communities and people of color to help you find a profession “that can propel [you] to the next level of wealth creation.
Economic Diversity Supports a Diverse Talent Pool
The Greater Portland Metro Area's economic landscape offers stability and opportunity across multiple sectors, creating a robust and diversified talent pool with experience in every industry. From cutting-edge technology firms to advanced manufacturing, from world-class healthcare institutions to a thriving creative sector, Greater Portland offers a business ecosystem where companies can find the workforce training, resources, community-based talented job seekers and support they need to succeed.
Portland's Workforce by Industry
Healthcare & Social Assistance
11,951 Businesses
227,144 Employed Professionals
Retail Trade
11,914 Businesses
149,424 Employed Professionals
Manufacturing
4,410 Businesses
116,121 Skilled Workers
Accommodation & Food Service
8,399 Businesses
105,355 Employed in Hospitality
Industry Impact
Greater Portland is home to major employers that span various industries, including clean tech, apparel and outdoors and bioscience. The region is also a hub for headquarters, with 63 out of the top 100 employers based in Greater Portland.
This concentration of industry leaders is possible because of the region’s talented workforce. Highly educated individuals allow businesses to thrive and push to new limits. In turn, working with industry leaders like Intel and Nike provides a high level of hands-on experience and mentorship that makes job seekers uniquely qualified in the region.
