Long-Term Job Openings Fueled by Replacements

Continued job growth and record low unemployment are making it difficult for Oregon businesses to fill current vacancies, and Oregon’s economy is expected to create 263,000 job openings each year through 2027.

At 12 percent, expected employment growth in Oregon from 2017 to 2027 is more than one and a half times the projected national growth rate of 7.4 percent. In some industries, the state is still making up for jobs lost during the Great Recession. In others, the jobs lost have already been regained.

Among the broad occupational groups, health care (+19%) and construction (+16%) top the list for fastest-growing by 2027. Service occupations (which include protective services, building and grounds cleaning, personal appearance workers, funeral service workers, and more) rank first in most job openings. Service occupations made up 18 percent of the jobs in 2017 and are projected to comprise 20 percent of the openings over the decade.

Over this period most job openings are projected due to the need to replace workers leaving their occupations. Nine out of 10 total job openings (2.4 million) are expected to be due to the need to replace workers who retire or otherwise leave their occupation, with the remaining openings due to new or expanding businesses. Replacements overshadow growth openings in all broad occupational categories.

To learn more, read the full article written by Projections Economist Felicia Bechtoldt.