Oregon's Food Manufacturing Sector: A Staple of Oregon's Economy

Food manufacturing has long been an important industry in Oregon’s economy. It has been an important partner with Oregon’s famous agriculture sector, a symbiotic relationship that allow both industries to be a stable and long-time fixture of Oregon’s economy.

During the past 50 years, Oregon’s food manufacturing sector employed 20,000 to 26,000 people, and the industry’s share of total employment decreased. In 1959, food manufacturing employed 21,400 people and comprised 4.3 percent of the state’s total nonfarm payroll. In 2012, the activity employed 24,900 and comprised 1.5 percent of the state’s total nonfarm payroll

Oregon has a larger-than-average share of employment in food manufacturing, largely due to the large presence of frozen food manufacturing. In the U.S., frozen food manufacturing comprises a little less than 6 percent of total food manufacturing employment. In Oregon, frozen food manufacturing comprised 27 percent of the state’s total food manufacturing employment. 

Looking to the future, food manufacturing is expected to be one of the bright spots in Oregon’s manufacturing sector. From 2010 to 2020, Oregon’s manufacturing sector is expected to grow 15 percent, adding 24,900 jobs. Food manufacturing is also expected to gain employment during the decade; it is expected to grow 10 percent, adding 2,300 jobs from 2010 to 2020.

Although the manufacturing sector is expected to grow faster than food manufacturing, keep in mind that steep employment losses during the recent recession mean manufacturing will have less employment in 2020 than the sector had in 2008. Food manufacturing didn’t experience steep employment losses during the recession and is projected to have 10 percent more employment in 2020 than in 2008.

Get a better look at Oregon's food manufacturing sector by reading Pat O'Connor's full article: "Oregon's Food Manufacturing Sector: A Staple of Oregon's Economy."