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Workforce

Central Oregon's workforce dynamic has changed significantly over the past few decades. The region has transformed itself from a sleepy agriculture and lumber community to a booming tourism and destination resort hub. People have moved to the region in record numbers as they visit Central Oregon and discover what it has to offer.

In-migration has been the biggest engine of change in the region. According to census data, Central Oregon's three counties (Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson) were among the fastest growing in Oregon during the past decade. Deschutes led the state with a 54% population growth rate and was among the top five percent gainers in the nation. Jefferson and Crook ranked fourth and fifth fastest growing in the state at 39% and 36% respectively.  Bend is the largest city in the region with a current population of over 55,000.

Unemployment in the region will remain higher than Oregon and U.S. as a result of 1) rapid population growth (rather than economic stagnation) and 2) ongoing industry and trend shifts in the wood products industry.

Underemployment
Because there are more people looking for employment than there are jobs available, many Central Oregonians work less than full-time or must settle for lower skill, lower wage jobs. The total number of people who are underemployed in the region is difficult to quantify because this phenomenon is not currently being tracked. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that underemployment is prevalent in Central Oregon. The majority of new residents, both young and old, move to the region without first securing employment, and as a result, these "lifestyle" migrants must often settle for jobs that underutilize their talents in order to make ends meet. About half of the new jobs created in the region come from the retail and service sectors, leaving skilled workers and professionals with limited employment alternatives.

Area Demographics
The region has become popular for early retirees (Bend was named among Money Magazine's top five best places to retire in 2000 and, again, by MSN in 2003). Central Oregon has a higher percentage of people between 45 - 74 than the U.S. or the state of Oregon. They are an active, highly experienced and often wealthy group of individuals who have a great deal to offer potential employers. There also is a growing group of investors in the region wishing to establish a regional angel/venture fund to stimulate area business development.

Race Distribution
In-migration during the 1990's has not only brought more people but also a greater diversity of people to Central Oregon (see graphic below). This trend will continue as new, innovative businesses attract workers of all skill, education, age, race and ethnic backgrounds away from crowded metropolitan areas to this family friendly region.

Education Level
Overall, Oregon citizens are better educated than the U.S. average.   Students from the Bend/La Pine school district are among the nation's leaders in average combined SAT scores, and Central Oregon has one of the highest numbers of high school graduates (see graphs). A complete set of updated statistics for Central Oregon is not yet available, but in-migration surveys indicate that 95.5% of the new residents have a high school diploma, and of those, 68.5% have either some college credits or four year degrees. These numbers are much higher than state and national averages.

Central Oregon is focused on further developing its workforce capacity. The region boasts a new Applied Technology Center in Redmond (a division of Central Oregon Community College) and a new ranch campus of Oregon State University that offers four-year and graduate degrees locally.

Average Wages
The region's cost of labor has remained relatively flat throughout the 1990's. The average wage for all industries increased by a mere 1.4% from 1990 - 1999 for Central Oregon compared to an increase of 13.6% for the state as a whole. Many of Central Oregon wages are significantly lower than state averages. For example, the average wage in the manufacturing sector at the state level was $13,539 higher than that for Central Oregon. This trend is projected to continue as regional population growth strains the area job market. Competition for available jobs will tend to keep wage inflation in check.

The following is a comparative list of hourly rates for specific job titles for Central Oregon in relation to state-wide averages for Oregon, Washington and California.  Labor costs are much more favorable in Central Oregon .  Furthermore, a more in depth analysis of overall labor trends reveals that Central Oregon has much less employee turnover than state-wide or regional averages.  As a result, the wage statistics are skewed upward in Central Oregon due to the greater length of tenure, experience and worker loyalty levels in the community. 

Access to Workers
The 75,000 + people that comprise the region’s workforce travel frequently between communities.  The Central Oregon region has seven incorporated cities: Prineville in Crook County; Bend, Redmond and Sisters in Deschutes County; and Culver, Madras and Metolius in Jefferson County. Deschutes County has the greatest population with Bend as the largest city in the region. People in Central Oregon are used to commuting between cities and often do not work and live in the same place. Despite where a company chooses to locate, it can draw workers from the entire region.

Redmond is in the “geographic center” of Central Oregon and the fastest growing city in the state.  The above driving time map shows that all commutes are 30 minutes or less from this central point.  The furthest points, for example Bend to Madras, are within an hour’s drive. 

A well know fact among Central Oregonians is that people here live where they want, and commute to employment. For employers visiting the area who are considering establishing operations, a community’s population is less of a factor than it can be in other areas.

Central Oregon Workforce Summary
The region is an attractive place to do business and has consistently led Oregon in terms of job creation. The main reason why Central Oregon is such a dynamic and growing place is due to large scale in-migration in the 1990's. The region has been rated as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by numerous publications. As a result, the region's population has grown by nearly 50% from 1990 to 2000 and is project to continue to grow at a rapid pace for the foreseeable future.

The new people moving to the region add to the diversity, education level and experience of the workforce. Furthermore, the consistent in-migration of new people makes the job market extremely competitive, putting downward pressure on wages. Employers have a large pool of unemployed and underemployed workers to choose from. The combination of great livability, economic vitality and affordability make Central Oregon an ideal place to relocate or expand a business.