Portland Industries
In today's connected, economy competition can no longer be looked at on a local scale. Competition today happens not between small towns and business, but between regions that produce goods and provide services that are aimed at the same markets. Because of this it is prudent to look at how Portland compares to other metropolitan regions that produce and provide similar goods and services. To do this we must first build a reference economy that represents an average of similar regions that we can then compare Portland to. For this analysis the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis were chosen.
How Does Portland Stack Up?
In this section we will discuss how the Portland Metropolitan Area compares to other similar regional economies in the United States. Industry composition, change in employment over time for the Portland Economy, change in employment over time relative to the reference economy and the Location Quotients of both the Portland MSA and its constituent counties will be evaluated.
In this section we will discuss how the Portland Metropolitan Area compares to other similar regional economies in the United States. Industry composition, change in employment over time for the Portland Economy, change in employment over time relative to the reference economy and the Location Quotients of both the Portland MSA and its constituent counties will be evaluated.
2011 Breakdown of Employment by Sector
This chart shows the size of different industries within Portland as a percentage of the whole. The largest industry is Health Care and Social Assistance, which is typical for most metro areas. Retail Trade is second largest, also typical of metro areas because of the large number of small businesses in the region. Wholesale Trade is a large industry because of the port on the Columbia River. This port allows large ocean going ships to reach Portland to take on goods for overseas shipments.
Though a small sector employment wise, Information (3%) is a large producer of value in the Portland economy. Silicon Forest is located in Washington county and serves as a headquarters for Intel and several other large computer manufacturers.
This chart shows the size of different industries within Portland as a percentage of the whole. The largest industry is Health Care and Social Assistance, which is typical for most metro areas. Retail Trade is second largest, also typical of metro areas because of the large number of small businesses in the region. Wholesale Trade is a large industry because of the port on the Columbia River. This port allows large ocean going ships to reach Portland to take on goods for overseas shipments.
Though a small sector employment wise, Information (3%) is a large producer of value in the Portland economy. Silicon Forest is located in Washington county and serves as a headquarters for Intel and several other large computer manufacturers.
Change in Portland Employment by Sector between 2007 and 20011
This graph shows the change employment by Industry for Portland between 2007 and 2011. Note that even if these numbers fall, it does not mean that the employment rate has dropped as well, because the workforce may have shrunk as in that time period. In fact, Portland's unemployment rate has fallen over this time period. The largest losses in employment were in the Construction and Manufacturing industries, at around .02%. The Wholesale Trade and Health and Social Assistance sectors both grew.
This graph shows the change employment by Industry for Portland between 2007 and 2011. Note that even if these numbers fall, it does not mean that the employment rate has dropped as well, because the workforce may have shrunk as in that time period. In fact, Portland's unemployment rate has fallen over this time period. The largest losses in employment were in the Construction and Manufacturing industries, at around .02%. The Wholesale Trade and Health and Social Assistance sectors both grew.
Relative Change in Portland Employment when compared to the Reference Economy
This graph shows the change in employment by industry in Portland compared to the change in employment by industry in the reference economy. This shows whether or not an industry has gained or lost jobs compared to its competition in another region. Note that even if employment dropped in both places, the industry that lost a lower percentage of employment will have had relative growth.
In Portland Wholesale Trade grew the most compared to the reference economy, followed by Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative Support. Management, Educational Services and Education all dropped compared to the reference economy
This graph shows the change in employment by industry in Portland compared to the change in employment by industry in the reference economy. This shows whether or not an industry has gained or lost jobs compared to its competition in another region. Note that even if employment dropped in both places, the industry that lost a lower percentage of employment will have had relative growth.
In Portland Wholesale Trade grew the most compared to the reference economy, followed by Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative Support. Management, Educational Services and Education all dropped compared to the reference economy
Portland MSA Location Quotients
This Graph shows which industries are concentrated in Portland, which industries make the region unique. The Location Quotient is calculated by taking the percentage of jobs in an industry in the economy and dividing it by the percentage of the same industry in the reference economy. If the number is above a value of "1" it has a concentration of the industry, below "1" means the industry is concentrated elsewhere.
In Portland "Forestry" sticks out as the largest. It may have the largest location quotient, but it is such a small portion of the Portland economy that it doesn't hold much significance. Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, and Educational Services all have relatively high location quotients. This is due to the Port of Oakland, the headquarters of several large outdoor gear companies and several high quality universities in the region.
This Graph shows which industries are concentrated in Portland, which industries make the region unique. The Location Quotient is calculated by taking the percentage of jobs in an industry in the economy and dividing it by the percentage of the same industry in the reference economy. If the number is above a value of "1" it has a concentration of the industry, below "1" means the industry is concentrated elsewhere.
In Portland "Forestry" sticks out as the largest. It may have the largest location quotient, but it is such a small portion of the Portland economy that it doesn't hold much significance. Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, and Educational Services all have relatively high location quotients. This is due to the Port of Oakland, the headquarters of several large outdoor gear companies and several high quality universities in the region.
To Explore the Industry Makeup of the Counties
in the Portland MSA click on one of the Following Links
in the Portland MSA click on one of the Following Links