A Snapshot of Size of Firms in Washington County
August 24, 2026In the first quarter of 2026, Washington County had more than 17,500 private firms subject to unemployment insurance taxes. Nearly 14,000 of these private firms had at least one employee on their payroll in March 2026.
Firm size data provides a one-time snapshot of Washington County’s economy, showing the presence of both small and large businesses. Small businesses made up the majority of firms in the county.
| All Size Classes | Number of Firms | Number of Employees | Total Wages (in thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Size Classes | 17,519 | 278,046 | 6,640,161 |
| 1-4 Employees | 7,899 | 14,835 | 300,867 |
| 5-9 Employees | 2,489 | 16,428 | 285,936 |
| 10-19 Employees | 1,601 | 21,642 | 381,973 |
| 20-49 Employees | 999 | 30,024 | 572,715 |
| 50-99 Employees | 415 | 28,336 | 572,360 |
| 100-249 Employees | 267 | 39,682 | 795,986 |
| 250-500 Employees | 92 | 30,914 | 647,490 |
| 500 + Employees | 67 | 96,185 | 3,071,173 |
Most firms are small, but employment is concentrated among large firms
About 97% of firms with employees had fewer than 100 workers, representing approximately 13,400 workers. Together, these firms account for 40% of private sector employment.
Despite their abundance, small firms accounted for a relatively small share of total employment and wages. Firms with one to four employees made up 5.3% of private employment and 4.5% of total wages paid in the first quarter of 2026.
In contrast, Washington County’s largest firms represented a small share of the total number of businesses but employed a substantial share of the workforce. The 67 firms with 500 or more employees represented 0.4% of all firms with employees, yet accounted for 35% of private-sector jobs and 46% of wages paid.
First Quarter Employment and Pay
Overall, Washington County had more than 295,700 jobs covered by the state’s unemployment insurance system during the first quarter of 2026. This was a decrease of over 7,000 jobs from the first quarter of 2025. Workers earned over $6.6 billion during the quarter, with an average quarterly wage of approximately $23,880 per worker. The average wage increased by $1,480, or 6.6% compared to the first quarter of 2025.
You can read about the size of firms statewide in the article A Snapshot of Oregon Firms by Size Class.