Employment declined in 5 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon from December 2024 to December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Washington County (-3.3 percent) had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oregon, December 2025

County	Percent change, December 2025
Washington	-3.3
Clackamas	-1.3
Multnomah	-1.3
Lane	-0.9
Deschutes	-0.8
Jackson	0.7
Marion	2.4

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oregon, September 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
Washington	-3.9
Clackamas	-1.9
Lane	-1.4
Multnomah	-1.1
Deschutes	-0.6
Jackson	0.0
Marion	1.4

Multnomah County (492,900) had the highest employment level in Oregon in December 2025. Together, the seven largest counties accounted for 75.1 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

Average weekly wage changes in 4 of 7 large counties in Oregon were above the national average of 4.2 percent. (See chart 2.) Clackamas had the largest gain (+6.4 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among the other six large Oregon counties ranged from 5.1 percent to -2.0 percent.

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oregon, fourth quarter 2025

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2025
Clackamas	6.4
Multnomah	5.1
Jackson	5.0
Lane	4.9
Deschutes	4.2
Marion	3.8
Washington	-2.0

Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oregon, third quarter 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
Marion	6.0
Deschutes	5.6
Jackson	4.4
Lane	4.4
Clackamas	4.3
Multnomah	3.8
Washington	3.2

Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon were above the national average of $1,569: Washington ($1,774) and Multnomah ($1,675). Average weekly wages among the other five large counties ranged from $1,505 in Clackamas to $1,193 in Jackson.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 smaller counties in Oregon, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all smaller counties were below the national average. Morrow reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,478). Wheeler reported the lowest average weekly wage ($883) in the state.

Among all 36 Oregon counties, 9 reported average weekly wages less than $1,075, 12 had wages from $1,075 to $1,149, 4 had wages from $1,150 to $1,224, 4 had wages from $1,225 to $1,299, and 7 had average weekly wages of $1,300 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)