Heavy Metal: Oregon's Primary Metal Manufacturing Industry

Primary metal manufacturing currently provides about 8,200 jobs in Oregon. The vast majority of Oregon's primary metal manufacturing employment is located within three of Oregon's 36 counties. Multnomah, Clackamas, and Linn counties accounted for 89 percent of the industry's total employment in 2012.

Employment in the industry is down from its peak of more than 11,000 jobs in 1998. That employment decline nearly mirrors the decline of the manufacturing sector as a whole. Oregon's total manufacturing and primary metal manufacturing employment declined 25 and 26 percent respectively from 1998 to 2012. As a result, primary metal manufacturing's share of total manufacturing employment in 2012 is similar to what it was in 1998, comprising a little less than 5 percent of Oregon's manufacturing jobs. 

Despite the employment decline since 1998, Oregon still has a high concentration of primary metal manufacturing employment, nearly twice the national average. In terms of output, Oregon's primary metal manufacturing industry has also significantly outpaced the national average growth within the industry since 2003. Oregon's output within the industry is 45 percent higher than it was in 1997. Nationally, the industry's output is only 5 percent above its 1997 level.

For more information, including industry employment by age and an industry outlook, check out the full article written by regional economist Pat O'Connor.