Oregon City is a dynamic community with the resources that businesses need to flourish.
Priority areas include:
- Business Retention and Expansion
- Business Attraction
- Entrepreneurism
- Urban Renewal
- Tourism Development
The Economic Development team also supports innovative workforce development initiatives, assisting Oregon City companies to find the right employees. And supporting Oregon City residents as they pursue economic opportunity.
People Are Our Greatest Resource
Employment
Oregon City businesses and nonprofit organizations employed 15,762 workers in 2020. This represents about 10% of Clackamas County’s total employment and included 1,429 different employers. (Oregon Employment Dept.)
Oregon City’s employers are primarily locally owned, small businesses. Sixty one percent (61%) of the firms in Oregon City in 2020 employed 9 or fewer people. Forty four percent (44%) employed 4 or fewer people.
Oregon City Workforce Profile
Oregon City had a labor force of 19,799 people in October 2021. The average size of the labor force in 2021 was 19,667 people (Oregon Employment Dept). The pie chart here shows a breakdown of employment by sector.
Target Industries
The Top 10 For-Profit Employers in Oregon City in terms of the number of employees are:
- Benchmade Knife Company
- Albertsons Supermarket
- Avamere Rehabilitation
- B & B Leasing Company
- First Call Heating and Cooling
- Providence Heart Clinic
- Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
- Funnel Box Video and Animation
- Practice Max
- Best Western Plus Rivershore
Source: BluDot 2022
Oregon City works with companies in our target industries to increase the number of local quality jobs and investment.
Our Target Industries are:
* Light manufacturing and assemblage
* Logistics and wholesale distribution
* Healthcare
* Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
* Tourism
Cultivating the growth of tourism-facing businesses and tourism-related nonprofits is important to Oregon City’s economic landscape. Oregon City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan calls for the building of much-needed tourism infrastructure. A local tourism industry that provides more and different activities will attract more visitors to Oregon City.
Equally important, the Oregon City Economic Development Strategy encourages policies and initiatives that provide opportunity for everyone seeking entry and growth in the community’s labor force. With an emphasis on workforce development and the expansion of local childcare services, the economic development strategy supports programs and investment that mitigates barriers to entry and advancement in the workforce.
Manufacturing
Oregon City is home to several customized manufacturing companies specializing in a range of products from metals fabrication to medical grade components. Some of our local manufacturers include:
- Benchmade Knife Company
- Tri Lett Industries
- Reed Industries
- Orchid Orthopedics
- Custom Tool & Manufacturing
- ProTurn – CNC Machining & Elastomer Modeling
- Rock Hard Limited
Logistics companies include:
- ArcBest
- Transco Northwest Inc.
- TGR Logistics, Inc.
- Coyote (A UPS Company)
Commercial and Industrial Space
As of 2020, the average rent per square foot for retail space was $15.11, compared to $19.48 for office space. The average rent per square foot for retail spaced peaked at $24.88 in 2019 (Economic Development Strategy, 2022-2027).
Rent per Sq. Ft
Rent per Sq. Ft, Commercial Properties (Office vs Retail), Oregon City, 2015 to 2020
Source: Costar
Vacancy Percentage
Average Rent per Sq. Ft. and Vacancy Rate, Commercial Properties, Oregon City, 2015 to 2020.
Source: Costar
