A Glance Back at Eastern Oregon in 2024
June 10, 2025Total nonfarm employment growth in Eastern Oregon was 1.1% for 2024, down from the 1.9% growth rate one year prior. Nonfarm employment reached 72,033 jobs as both the private sector and the public sector expanded. Annual average employment data shows private-sector growth of 1.3% for a gain of 666 jobs. A sizeable gain in education and health services led the overall over-the-year gains in private industry. Meanwhile, the public sector grew by 0.7% for a gain of 138 jobs, led by a significant gain in state government.
Growth in Most Industries
Private-sector employment climbed to 52,935 for Eastern Oregon in 2024. The private sector accounted for 73.5% of the region’s total nonfarm employment: virtually unchanged from 2023. Education and health services bulked up with the largest gain. The industry followed a 3.6% gain in 2023 with an addition of 528 jobs in 2024 for a gain of 5.4%. Goods-producing manufactured the second largest gain, adding 106 jobs for a gain of 1.0%. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities took the bronze medal, adding 60 jobs, a gain of 1.5%.
Public-sector employment rose to 19,098 in 2024. The government’s overall gain was predominately due to growth in state government. State government rose by 140 new jobs around the region (+3.5%) with the largest gain in Umatilla County (+58) and the fastest growth in Wallowa County (+12.9%). Federal government grew by 2.2% and local education showed small growth, at 0.3%.
Losses came in three broad private-sector industries and one public-sector component. Professional and business services suffered the biggest loss in 2024, dropping 80 jobs for a loss of 2.3%. Wholesale and retail trade shelved 64 jobs for a 0.6% decrease. Financial activities cut 22 jobs, a loss of 1.1%. Local government excluding education decreased by 1.0%, a loss of 60 jobs.
In comparison, Oregon’s overall growth rate (+0.3%) was well below that of Eastern Oregon. The state’s private sector decreased by 0.2% while the public sector grew by 2.7%. Oregon saw decline in all broad sectors except for education and health services, other services, and leisure and hospitality. The largest loss for the state came in goods-producing, down 5,600 jobs or -1.8%. As with Eastern Oregon, the state’s fastest growth rate was in education and health services. The industry added 16,400 jobs for a gain of 5.1%.
Summertime Heated Up
In 2024, most Eastern Oregon industries hit their yearly low level of employment in January or February and then reached their yearly high level in June, July, or August. This is in line with historical seasonality trends for the region. May was the hottest month in terms of overall over-the-month gains. Total nonfarm employment picked up by 631 jobs (+0.9%) in May as several industries geared up for the summer season. Many jobs added during the spring are seasonal and employment for these industries began to drop again in September.
January was the top month in terms of over-the-year growth in total nonfarm employment. Total nonfarm employment was 1,861 jobs higher in January 2024 than it was in January 2023. The second biggest month for over-the-year growth was February. February’s nonfarm employment rose 1,569 jobs above the previous year’s mark. Over-the-year growth was positive in private-sector employment for each month in 2024 and positive in total nonfarm employment for each month but December. Over-the-year growth in government employment was positive each month January through August and then negative each month September through December. The single largest over-the-year gain in the private sector was in education and health services, which posted 659 jobs more in December 2024 than in December 2023. Education and health services saw gains throughout the year. Professional and business services put the biggest drag on employment gains. The industry saw an annual average loss greater than 5% in Harney and Malheur counties, and a loss greater than 10% in Baker County.
Labor Force Climbed Higher
Eastern Oregon’s total labor force rose in 2024. The annual average labor force added 1,191 people for a gain of 1.4%, surpassing the gain of 0.9% seen in 2023. Despite the overall gain in Eastern Oregon, there were three counties that did see a decrease. Grant County took the largest loss at 37 people (-1.2%). Harney County’s loss was a little lighter, down 29 people (-0.8%), and Wallowa County was essentially unchanged by a decrease of 2 people (-0.1%). The largest gain came as Umatilla County added 556 people (+1.5%). Malheur and Morrow counties saw the second and third largest gains with the addition of 257 people (+2.0%) and 244 people (+4.1%), respectively.
The annual average number of unemployed increased by 206 people. This raised the average unemployment rate for Eastern Oregon to 4.5% in 2024 from 4.3% in 2023. The total number of unemployed increased in each county for the year with six counties seeing higher unemployment rates while Umatilla and Wallowa counties’ rates held steady. Union County averaged 86 more unemployed throughout the year, the largest increase. Union’s unemployment rate rose from 4.0% in 2023 to 4.7% in 2024. Morrow and Malheur counties had the lowest unemployment rates for the region at 3.9% and 4.0%, respectively, up from 3.6% and 3.8% the previous year.
Employment Growth Mixed at the County Level
Five of eight Eastern Oregon counties saw at least some growth in total nonfarm employment for 2024. Three gainers saw growth rates above 1.5% while two saw lesser growth. Three counties saw declines in total nonfarm employment for 2024. Two decliners saw growth rates below -1.5%.
Baker County added 47 nonfarm jobs for the year (+0.9%). Private employment fell by 10 jobs (-0.2%) while government employment climbed by 56 jobs (+4.7%). Baker’s largest private-sector gain was in wholesale and retail trade, up 36 jobs (+4.0%). Education and health services also had a decent showing, rising by 27 jobs for a gain of 2.7%. Baker’s biggest loss came in professional and business services, down 40 jobs (-10.6%).
Grant County nonfarm employment fell 2.8% over the year for a loss of 69 jobs. Private-sector employment took most of the decrease, dropping 66 jobs (-4.7%). Government employment fell by 3 jobs (-0.3%). The largest private-sector losses for Grant came in goods-producing (down 46 jobs or 13.0%), and wholesale and retail trade (down 13 jobs or 4.5%). Industry gains were light with just seven jobs added in other services, three added in financial activities, and two added in transportation, warehousing, and utilities.
Harney County dropped 47 jobs in total nonfarm employment for a loss of 1.9%. Most of the loss was in the private sector, down 49 jobs for a loss of 3.6%. The public sector saw a minimal gain of two jobs or 0.2%. Private-sector decline was largest in wholesale and retail trade. The industry dropped 45 jobs for a loss of 10.7%. Other services was the next biggest loser, down 12 jobs or 15.4%. Meanwhile Harney saw the education and health services industry rise by 13 jobs, growing the industry’s workforce by 5.6%.
Malheur County added 194 nonfarm jobs in 2024 for a gain of 1.6%. Private-sector employment played the largest part in the county’s overall gain, rising by 147 jobs (+1.7%). Total government increased by 46 jobs (+1.3%). In the private sector, the overall regional trend continued with a gain of 108 jobs in education and health services (+6.0%). Goods-producing was the next biggest contributor with a gain of 89 jobs (+6.2%). Professional and business services lost the most jobs, down 22 for a loss of 5.0%.
Morrow County’s nonfarm employment added 120 jobs in 2024 (+2.1%). Private-sector employment climbed 4.6% with a gain of 211 jobs while government employment decreased 8.5% with a loss of 92 jobs. The goods-producing industry rebounded from the loss of 77 jobs in 2023, adding 104 jobs (+5.7%) in 2024. Education and health services tacked on 38 jobs (+13.3%) to follow suit in the region. Local government was responsible for the loss in public-sector employment. Local education dropped 70 jobs (-18.8%) and other local government lost 21 jobs (-3.5%).
Umatilla County’s total nonfarm job count rose 1.9% in 2024 with a gain of 546 jobs. Private-sector employment was responsible for much of the gain, adding 473 jobs (+2.2%). Public-sector employment added 73 jobs for an increase of 0.9%. Umatilla’s largest gain came in education and health services, which grew by 5.2% in 2024, adding 217 jobs. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities showed the second largest gain, adding 107 jobs for an increase of 4.4%. State government gained the most in the public sector, adding 58 jobs for a gain of 3.6%. Professional and business services dropped 28 jobs (-2.1%) to lead industry losses.
Union County’s total nonfarm growth was 0.2% in 2024, up 16 jobs. Private-sector employment dropped 18 jobs (-0.2%). Public-sector employment added 34 jobs (+1.4%). Goods-producing saw the largest private-sector decline with the loss of 64 jobs, a loss of 3.3%. Wholesale and retail trade dropped 52 jobs for a loss of 3.0%. Education and health services did its best to counteract the losses, adding 120 jobs for a gain of 7.0%. Local government education and state government gained the most in the public sector, adding 21 jobs (+1.6%) and 16 jobs (+3.8%), respectively.
Wallowa County’s total nonfarm employment decreased by four jobs (-0.1%) in 2024. Private-sector employment fell by 25 jobs (-1.2%). Government employment grew by 21 jobs or 2.8%. Goods-producing dropped 47 jobs (-10.5%) for the largest loss. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities followed with a loss of 21 jobs (-27.6%). Wholesale and retail trade saw the largest gain, adding 31 jobs or 7.8%. State government and federal government added 13 jobs (+12.9%) and 11 jobs (+12.0%), respectively.