Asian Americans in Oregon’s Labor Force: Growing, Educated, and Diverse
February 4, 2025According to U.S. Census Bureau, workers who identified as Asian accounted for about 7% of Oregon’s workforce in 2023, growing from 5% in 2013. That represents an increase from 100,000 Asian Oregonians in the labor force in 2013 to 163,000 in 2023. In other words, the Asian Oregonian labor force grew by 58% in the past decade, five times faster than the state’s labor force overall which grew by 12%.
In 2023, most Asian workers in the state were employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations (54%), followed by service occupations (16%) and sales and office occupations (15%). A larger share of Asian workers (54%) were in management, business, science, and arts occupations than the overall workforce (45%). In contrast, smaller shares of Asian workers were employed in sales and office occupations (15%, compared with 19% for all workers) or in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (4%, compared with 8% for all workers).
Early Asian immigrants, particularly Chinese laborers, played a significant role in shaping Oregon industries like railroads, agriculture, and mining. For example, according to Standford University, Chinese workers constituted 90% of the labor force building the Central Pacific Railroad in the 1860s. However, their contributions were met with xenophobia and exclusionary laws, the most infamous being the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This federal policy prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers and barred Chinese residents from naturalizing as U.S. citizens. The precedent set by this act extended beyond the Chinese community, as Japanese, Filipino, and South Asian immigrants faced similar discriminatory policies. The Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which restricted or outright banned all Asian immigration, are two examples.
These policies forced many Asian Americans into marginalized labor sectors. Restricted from owning land or working in higher-wage industries, they often took jobs in domestic work, laundry services, and farming – industries characterized by low pay and poor working conditions. By limiting access to stable employment and property ownership, these laws stifled wealth accumulation and intergenerational economic progress within Asian communities. Furthermore, they reinforced stereotypes that framed Asian workers as perpetual foreigners, an image that has lingered into contemporary discourse. The repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 allowed limited Chinese immigration and naturalization. Later, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed racially discriminatory quotas, further dismantled these barriers.
Today, Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing racial groups in the United States, with Oregon reflecting similar trends. As of 2023, Asian Americans comprise approximately 6.8% of Oregon’s population, compared with 7.4% nationwide. This article adopts the current federal definition of Asian, distinguishing Asian from Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Labor Force Participation Hovers Above Average
The number of Asian people living in Oregon has grown by 37% over the last decade to 288,959 people, according to American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 estimates. One third (33%) of Asian people in the state identify themselves as Asian American in addition to one or more other races. In 2023, Asian Oregonians outpaced the state in labor force participation, with 71% engaged in the workforce compared with 63% of all Oregonians. This rate holds consistent across those identifying as solely Asian and those identifying as Asian in addition to one or more other races.
Oregon’s Asian residents are centered in the state’s urban core, with 88% living in the Portland Tri-County area compared with just 59% of all Oregon residents. Language remains a significant barrier shaping their experiences in the workforce. According to the 2023 ACS, 18.4% of Asian Oregonians aged five or older “speak English less than very well”, compared with 5.5% of all Oregonians.
Educational Attainment Among Asian Oregonians Exceeds State Averages
Asian Americans in Oregon have achieved relatively high levels of education. As of 2023, 32% of Asian Oregonians over the age of 25 hold a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of educational attainment, and an additional 24% have a graduate or professional degree, exceeding the statewide averages of 24% and 14%, respectively. In addition, fewer Asians over the age of 25 had only a high school diploma, at 13%, compared with the state average of 22%. A smaller share of Asians over age 25, 22%, reported completing some college or an associate's degree compared with 32% of all Oregonians. These higher levels of education tend to correlate with improved employment outcomes, such as the lower unemployment rate shown above, as well as higher earnings.
The share of Asian Oregonians with a bachelor’s degree rose by nearly six percentage points from 25.6% in 2010 to 31.5% in 2023. Similarly, the share with a graduate or professional degree increased by 3.8 percentage points. Meanwhile, the proportion of Asian Oregonians without a high school diploma dropped by 4.0 percentage points, and those with only a high school diploma decreased by 4.1 points, showing a trend toward higher levels of education in the community.
Earnings Show Both Growth and Disparities
Consistent with their high educational attainment and low unemployment rates, Asians in Oregon also tend to earn higher-than-average incomes. Real average annual wages for Asian workers in Oregon, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to reflect 2023 dollars, have increased by 24% over the decade to $91,000 in 2023. The rate of growth exceeds that of all workers in Oregon, who have experienced a 16% real wage growth during that same period to a level of $70,000. Asians in Oregon have seen their pay gap rise from 7% in 2003 to 30% in 2023, though that represents a 1.0 percentage point drop from 2022.
Factors like age, gender, and occupation are hard to control for in Oregon due to sample size limitations that affect data reliability. National Census data compiled by Goldman Sachs show that while Asian Americans are overrepresented in high pay occupations, they are also overrepresented in occupations on the low end of pay, leaving mid-level paying jobs underrepresented. In addition, Asian Americans are substantially underrepresented in executive and management positions. Some of the higher pay observed can be explained by Asians’ prevalence in science and math related professions, as shown by USAFacts using national BLS and Census data; however, the economic outcomes of Asians vary substantially by specific country of origin.
The Road Ahead
Asian Americans in Oregon’s labor force represent a growing and important segment of the state’s population. With above-average educational attainment, high labor force participation, and significant representation in skilled occupations, they contribute extensively to Oregon’s economy. However, the community also faces unique challenges, including language barriers, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and disparities in occupations and earnings among Asian subgroups across different national origins.
Addressing these challenges is not only a matter of equity but also an economic imperative. By dismantling barriers to leadership, recognizing the differences within Oregon’s Asian population, and addressing subgroup-specific needs, Oregon can unlock the full potential of its diverse workforce. As Oregon continues to grow and diversify, embracing the strengths and addressing the needs of communities like Asian Americans will ensure a more prosperous future for all. By building on the progress made, Oregon can set an example of how diversity fuels innovation and economic vitality.