Fall 2023 Hiring Among Oregon’s Private Employers

by Anna Johnson

January 25, 2024

Each quarter, the Oregon Employment Department surveys private employers from all industries and areas of the state to ask about the job vacancies they are actively trying to fill. Oregon businesses reported 65,200 job vacancies in fall 2023. Vacancies decreased 8% from the summer and decreased 24% from fall 2022. The number of vacancies is closer to levels seen prior to the pandemic, after a streak of four quarters above 100,000 vacancies in 2022. The pre-pandemic record high was 66,600 vacancies in summer 2017.

The number of private-sector job openings in the U.S. peaked at 11.4 million in April 2022. Openings over the last two years have significantly exceeded the previous high of 7.0 million seen in April 2019.

The unemployed-to-vacancy ratio for the U.S. and Oregon remained low in fall 2023. In October 2023, there were 8.4 million private-sector job openings in the United States, as measured by the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, and 6.1 million people were unemployed, resulting in a U.S. ratio of 0.7 unemployed people per job opening (or seven unemployed persons per 10 job openings). This is the tenth straight quarter at or below a ratio of 1.0. In October 2023, there were 71,900 unemployed Oregonians and the number of job vacancies was 65,200, leaving about one unemployed person for every job opening.

Graph showing U.S. and Oregon Unemployed to Job Vacancy Ratios Still Low after Spring 2020 Peak

Most openings in the fall were for full-time, permanent positions. Education beyond high school was required for 38% of fall vacancies. A majority of employers reported their vacancies as difficult to fill, accounting for 63% of vacancies in fall 2023, down from 75% in fall 2022.

The average starting wage among this group of vacancies was $25.62 per hour, an inflation-adjusted increase of 3% from fall 2022, and a 7% increase from summer 2023. Vacancies decreased 8% from the summer and decreased 24% from fall 2022. The number of vacancies offering a starting wage below $20 per hour decreased 52% over the year. The number of vacancies offering between $20 and $30 per hour increased 4%, and vacancies paying above $30 per hour decreased 16%.

Table showing Oregon Job Vacancies, Fall 2023

Hiring demand was widespread throughout industries and occupations. Five out of 14 major sectors were hiring for more than 5,000 positions at any given time in fall 2023. Health care and social assistance had the most vacancies of any industry by far, with 20,500 vacancies. Construction followed with about 6,400 in fall 2023 and leisure and hospitality had 6,200 vacancies.

Table showing Oregon Job Vacancies by Industry, Fall 2023

Employers reported vacancies in more than 200 different occupations. The occupation groups with the most vacancies in fall 2023 were health care support (6,300), health care practitioners and technical (5,700), and construction and extraction (5,600). Detailed occupations reported most frequently included personal care aides, business operations specialists, mental health counselors, and retail salespersons. 

Fall vacancies were distributed across the state, with the Portland tri-county area accounting for about 40%. Vacancies decreased over the year in every region of the state, except the East Cascades which increased 34%.

Table showing Oregon Job Vacancies by Geography, Fall 2023

More details about Oregon Job Vacancies are available on QualityInfo.org, on the publications page under Job Vacancy Survey.

Latest Items (25)

  • Clay & Kiln Collection will open in downtown Salem. Facebook 01/19/2025
  • Osaka Hibachi & Sushi opened in Keizer. Salem Eats 01/19/2025
  • Kids Land Medford, a play center, opened in Medford. Grants Pass Daily Courier 01/19/2025
  • Dory's, a food truck, opened in Springfield. The Register-Guard 01/19/2025
  • Adobe Restaurant & Bar will open in downtown Salem. Salem Eats 01/19/2025
  • Capes & Crepes – a board game, crepery, and boba tea café – will open in southeast Portland. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • Wine Down Willamette opened in West Linn. West Linn Tidings 01/17/2025
  • Pepper Lunch, a Japan-based fast-casual restaurant, will open Portland and Oregon City. KPTV 01/17/2025
  • Kayo's Ramen Bar opened in Beaverton. EverOut/Portland 01/17/2025
  • Off The Charts Games in Gresham closed. The Outlook 01/17/2025
  • Taphouse at Nye Creek in Newport closed. Lincoln County Leader 01/17/2025
  • A Starbucks location in Tualatin closed. Tualatin Life 01/17/2025
  • Brave Neighbor Coffeehouse opened in north Portland. EverOut/Portland 01/17/2025
  • Alita's, a Mexican fried chicken cart, opened in Beaverton. EverOut/Portland 01/17/2025
  • Moon Pocha, a Korean pub, will open in northeast Portland. What Now Portland 01/17/2025
  • The Springs at The Waterfront – an independent living, assisted living, and memory care facility – opened in Vancouver. The Columbian 01/17/2025
  • Market of Choice Grocery will open at Reed's Crossing Town Center in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • QDOBA Mexican Eats, Spitz Mediterranean Street Food, Redstraw Tea Bar, Insomnia Coffee Co., Jersey Mike's Subs, Nikki Sushi & Steak, ChimcKing, Chill & Grill, Jamba Juice, and Cinnabon Swirl will open at Reed's Crossing Town Center in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • Spruce Veterinary Urgent Care will open at Reed's Crossing Town Center in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • Pets on Broadway, a pet store, will open at Reed's Crossing Town Center in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • OnPoint Community Credit Union and Wells Fargo Bank will open at Reed's Crossing Town Center in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • Divine Nails & Spa, Club Pilates, PURA Natural Skincare, Heartland-Affiliated Dental Group, and Scenthound Pet Grooming will open at Reed's Crossing in Hillsboro. Portland Business Journal 01/17/2025
  • Hollondaze, a restaurant in Eugene, closed. Eugene Foodies 01/15/2025
  • Sentinel Self-Storage opened a fifth facility in Sherwood. Valley Times 01/07/2025
  • Insomnia Coffee Co. will open in Hillsboro. Hillsboro News Times 01/17/2025

Subscription Service

You can sign up to receive email notifications when publications have been updated or new articles are added for any geographic area you are interested in. You can receive new articles on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule – whichever is most convenient for you.

Visit the subscription order form to sign up. It allows you to choose your preferences, and you can change those preferences – or unsubscribe – at any time.