Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai’i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in Oregon. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in Oregon.
#50. Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.3% (190 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,080
— Employment in 2023: 890
— Median annual salary in 2024: $78,080
#49. Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.1% (210 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,160
— Employment in 2023: 950
— Median annual salary in 2024: $55,890
#48. Directors, Religious Activities and Education
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.6% (400 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,170
— Employment in 2023: 1,770
— Median annual salary in 2024: $46,810
#47. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.8% (700 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,770
— Employment in 2023: 3,070
— Median annual salary in 2024: $33,810
#46. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.0% (600 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,210
— Employment in 2023: 2,610
— Median annual salary in 2024: $103,760
#45. Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.3% (210 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,110
— Employment in 2023: 900
— Median annual salary in 2024: $75,130
#44. Logisticians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.0% (610 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,150
— Employment in 2023: 2,540
— Median annual salary in 2024: $89,920
#43. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,780
— Employment in 2023: 2,240
— Median annual salary in 2024: $59,430
#42. Dental Hygienists
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (710 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,640
— Employment in 2023: 2,930
— Median annual salary in 2024: $118,280
#41. Forest and Conservation Technicians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.4% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,750
— Employment in 2023: 2,210
— Median annual salary in 2024: $55,810
#40. Cooks, Fast Food
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.6% (860 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 4,360
— Employment in 2023: 3,500
— Median annual salary in 2024: $37,020
#39. Construction Managers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.4% (900 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 4,440
— Employment in 2023: 3,540
— Median annual salary in 2024: $126,660
#38. First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.9% (220 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,070
— Employment in 2023: 850
— Median annual salary in 2024: $46,850
#37. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.9% (1,250 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 6,080
— Employment in 2023: 4,830
— Median annual salary in 2024: $93,110
#36. Lodging Managers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.1% (230 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,110
— Employment in 2023: 880
— Median annual salary in 2024: $71,990
#35. Social Workers, All Other
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.2% (650 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,130
— Employment in 2023: 2,480
— Median annual salary in 2024: $63,350
#34. Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.8% (620 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,930
— Employment in 2023: 2,310
— Median annual salary in 2024: $36,610
#33. Psychiatric Technicians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.6% (350 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,620
— Employment in 2023: 1,270
— Median annual salary in 2024: $51,640
#32. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,030
— Employment in 2023: 1,590
— Median annual salary in 2024: $59,320
#31. Food Service Managers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.9% (940 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 4,310
— Employment in 2023: 3,370
— Median annual salary in 2024: $63,600
#30. Instructional Coordinators
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.0% (590 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,700
— Employment in 2023: 2,110
— Median annual salary in 2024: $79,710
#29. Opticians, Dispensing
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.8% (250 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,090
— Employment in 2023: 840
— Median annual salary in 2024: $49,550
#28. Psychiatric Aides
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.6% (310 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,290
— Employment in 2023: 980
— Median annual salary in 2024: $46,650
#27. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.6% (500 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,080
— Employment in 2023: 1,580
— Median annual salary in 2024: $61,040
#26. Family Medicine Physicians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.1% (430 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,770
— Employment in 2023: 1,340
— Median annual salary in 2024: $239,200+
#25. Chefs and Head Cooks
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.8% (900 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,640
— Employment in 2023: 2,740
— Median annual salary in 2024: $60,270
#24. Fashion Designers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.1% (290 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,140
— Employment in 2023: 850
— Median annual salary in 2024: $125,310
#23. Construction and Building Inspectors
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.7% (430 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,670
— Employment in 2023: 1,240
— Median annual salary in 2024: $82,220
#22. Tree Trimmers and Pruners
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.6% (310 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,180
— Employment in 2023: 870
— Median annual salary in 2024: $63,290
#21. Physician Assistants
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.9% (510 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,930
— Employment in 2023: 1,420
— Median annual salary in 2024: $149,130
#20. Tile and Stone Setters
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.8% (350 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,300
— Employment in 2023: 950
— Median annual salary in 2024: $54,380
#19. Protective Service Workers, All Other
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.8% (680 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,480
— Employment in 2023: 1,800
— Median annual salary in 2024: $44,590
#18. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.7% (840 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,010
— Employment in 2023: 2,170
— Median annual salary in 2024: $103,000
#17. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.3% (330 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,170
— Employment in 2023: 840
— Median annual salary in 2024: $129,920
#16. Operations Research Analysts
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.0% (740 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 2,590
— Employment in 2023: 1,850
— Median annual salary in 2024: $99,250
#15. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.9% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,770
— Employment in 2023: 1,230
— Median annual salary in 2024: $34,960
#14. Industrial Engineers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.6% (1,890 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 5,950
— Employment in 2023: 4,060
— Median annual salary in 2024: $124,560
#13. Semiconductor Processing Technicians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +47.8% (2,290 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 7,080
— Employment in 2023: 4,790
— Median annual salary in 2024: $61,470
#12. Advertising Sales Agents
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.8% (400 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,220
— Employment in 2023: 820
— Median annual salary in 2024: $45,090
#11. Medical Equipment Preparers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +49.6% (560 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,690
— Employment in 2023: 1,130
— Median annual salary in 2024: $49,050
#10. Pest Control Workers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +52.9% (370 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,070
— Employment in 2023: 700
— Median annual salary in 2024: $42,930
#9. Recreation Workers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.6% (1,470 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 3,980
— Employment in 2023: 2,510
— Median annual salary in 2024: $37,440
#8. Food Preparation Workers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.9% (5,150 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 13,890
— Employment in 2023: 8,740
— Median annual salary in 2024: $36,390
#7. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.8% (670 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,790
— Employment in 2023: 1,120
— Median annual salary in 2024: $58,790
#6. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.2% (530 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,410
— Employment in 2023: 880
— Median annual salary in 2024: $48,730
#5. Parking Attendants
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.6% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,000
— Employment in 2023: 560
— Median annual salary in 2024: $39,150
#4. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +86.5% (640 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,380
— Employment in 2023: 740
— Median annual salary in 2024: $54,510
#3. Interior Designers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +90.7% (490 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,030
— Employment in 2023: 540
— Median annual salary in 2024: $64,250
#2. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +92.2% (590 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 1,230
— Employment in 2023: 640
— Median annual salary in 2024: $48,700
#1. Self-Enrichment Teachers
– Increase in employment 2023-2024: +97.1% (2,330 employees)
— Employment in 2024: 4,730
— Employment in 2023: 2,400
— Median annual salary in 2024: $47,210
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
Stacker
Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.