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Construction in Oregon - Employment &
Economic Impact |
A Profile of the
Construction Industry in Oregon,
September 2009
According to the Oregon Construction Contractors
Board (CCB), as of August 2009 there are 40,989
licensed active construction businesses (both
general and specialty) in the state of Oregon. In
addition to that number, there are nearly 1,900
inactive licenses. This is an 8 percent decrease in
the number of licenses since August of 2008. The
number of licensed businesses reached its high point
of 46,426 in 2007.
Construction companies are primarily small and
medium sized businesses: 94 percent employ fewer
than 20 workers, 86 percent fewer than 10, and
nearly 75 percent employ fewer than five workers.
Construction employment is approximately 77,200
- 6% of Oregon's non-farm workforce
- 21 construction jobs/1,000 residents
- Average wage of $46,029 - more than $5,500 above the statewide
average wage of $40,486
- Three main sectors: building construction (commercial and
residential), heavy and civil engineering construction, and
specialty trade contractors. In 2006, 25% were building, 11% were
heavy/civil, and 64% were specialty trade contractors.
In 2008, more than $6.2 billion of
construction activity took place in
Oregon, a 31 percent decrease from
2007. Commercial construction
accounted for over $3.8 billion of
the total, a decrease of more than
$977 million. Within the commercial
sector, over $2.3 billion was spent
on nonresidential building
construction, and over $1.5 billion
on nonbuilding/heavy construction.
For every $10 million spent on construction,
70 new construction industry jobs
are created. For every $10 million
in construction, nearly 160 total
jobs are created, including jobs in
supplier and related businesses.
The 2000 U.S. Census reports that the construction
industry ranked third of the highest paying
occupational groups, and the second highest paying
occupational group for women.
Construction employs approximately 5% of the
American workforce. |
