From the stunning landscapes to the unique food and drink options, Portland is truly one of a kind. We’re a vibrant city full of gathering spots, walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of outdoorsy options. We know that life can’t be all fun and games – you need a place to work, too. Fortunately, Portland has plenty of employment opportunities in high-demand fields.

Are you thinking about moving to our lovely city? While there are job opportunities in many other industries, these are the top five industries that are currently driving Portland’s growth:

The Greater Portland area truly leads the way in outdoor gear and apparel. Nike, Columbia Sportswear Company, Adidas, Leatherman Tool Group, and La Crosse Footwear are just some of the industry giants who call Portland home. The entire process, from product design to manufacturing and distribution, is done right here in Portland and provides thousands of employment opportunities. 

A fascinating industry that has become prevalent in Portland is bioscience. Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) employs 18,000 people and leads the world in personalized cancer medicine. It makes perfect sense that we are leading the way in this field since Portland has two times the number of life scientists and biological technicians than the national average.  

You’ve likely heard that Portland is a very “green” city full of environmentally-conscious people. What you may not know is that passion extends into employment opportunities. The region is supportive of climate tech and truly believes that these companies can save the world! Companies like CleanTech and VertueLab have raised close to $550 million in venture capital and provide funding and mentorship for local climate tech startups. Vestas, also founded in PDX, is a global wind turbine manufacturer, committed to creating a better world through the development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions.

Led by companies like Intel, Jive Software, and HP, the computer and electronics sector has grown tremendously in the Portland region over the last decade. Portland’s highly-qualified talent pool has drawn 1700 tech companies to the area, brought 41,000 jobs, and produced $25.4 billion.  

With over 54,000 jobs in the Portland area, healthcare is one of Portland’s fastest-growing industries. This sector has employment opportunities of various levels – every position, from doctors to administrators, is in high demand. As the area continues to grow, we can only imagine that, so too will the need for healthcare workers. 

Head over to the Piece of PDX blog page for more Portland insights, tips on home maintenance, selling your home for top dollar, design inspiration, community engagement, and MORE! Thinking about moving to our beautiful city? Or, moving to a new Portland neighborhood? Check out all of our featured community blogs and find the perfect Portland neighborhood for you! Last but not least, REACH OUT! We can't wait to chat.