Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon from December 2022 to December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Marion County and Deschutes County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 2.9 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oregon, December 2023

County	Percent change, December 2023
Marion	2.9
Deschutes	2.7
Jackson	1.0
Lane	0.5
Multnomah	0.4
Clackamas	0.2
Washington	-0.5

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Among the 7 largest counties in Oregon, employment was highest in Multnomah County (507,300) in December 2023. Within Multnomah County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 7 largest Oregon counties accounted for 75.4 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 counties in Oregon with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 28 of the 29 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

All six large Oregon counties with published data reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Over-the-year wage gains in these counties ranged from 1.9 percent in Multnomah County to 4.8 percent Deschutes County.

  

View Chart Data

Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oregon, fourth quarter 2023

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2023
Deschutes	4.8
Washington	4.3
Clackamas	3.9
Lane	3.1
Jackson	2.8
Multnomah	1.9

Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Washington County ($1,687) had the highest weekly wage in the state and ranked 29^th in the nation, followed by Multnomah County ($1,519, 63^rd).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Among the 29 smaller counties in Oregon—those with employment below 75,000—Crook County ($1,467) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Wheeler County ($751) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 36 counties in Oregon were considered, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $949, 16 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 7 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)