Now Available: Oregon Size of Firm Data for 2013

Nine out of ten private-sector firms in Oregon had fewer than 20 employees in March 2013. Six out of ten employed fewer than five.

Despite their quantity, smaller firms collectively account for a much smaller share of overall employment than their larger counterparts. For example, the 59 percent of firms with one to four employees represented about eight percent of covered employment and six percent of wages in March 2013. On the other hand, the 0.3 percent of firms with at least 500 employees accounted for 26 percent of private-sector jobs and 35 percent of wages.

These distributions tend to remain stable from one year to the next, even as the overall number of firms, employees, and wages expands or contracts. This doesn’t mean that smaller firms are underperforming when it comes to job creation, or that larger firms are experiencing a bonanza. Size of firm data does not provide us with information about the employment change dynamics. Instead, it offers a snapshot that can help us understand the roles of small and large firms in Oregon’s economy at a specific point in time.

If you have questions about Oregon size of firm data, contact Research Analyst Phoebe Colman.