Where are Oregon's Young Workers Employed?

In our 2014 report, Endangered: Youth in the Labor Force, we discuss the disproportionately high unemployment rate for young people ages 16-24, as well as the dramatically declining labor force participation rate for these workers.

While unemployment rates for young workers remain high, there were 195,000 workers between the ages of 14 and 24 in the third quarter of 2014. This is a sizable number, but is still down more than 30,000 from the third quarter of 2004.

These young workers were most likely to be employed in restaurants. In fact, about 40,000 of them either worked at limited- or full-service restaurants. Grocery stores, employment services, and recreation industries also employed a relatively large share of young workers.

Where these young people were employed also depends on location, detailed age group, and gender. In most counties, the top industries for young workers tend to be limited- and full-service restaurants, grocery stores, and employment services (which includes temp help).

Explore the tool below to find out where young workers in your area are most likely to be employed.
For questions on how to use this tool, contact Will Burchard at william.g.burchard@oregon.gov.