Interesting shuffles in C.O. top employers list
Economic Development for Central Oregon announced Thursday its list of the 2019 Largest Central Oregon Employers, complete with breakouts of the top employers in each Central Oregon community. This data, collected by EDCO annually for the past 20 years, is the most comprehensive major employer list in Central Oregon.
This year, the top 50 private companies collectively employ more than 21,000 Central Oregonians, or roughly 21.5% of the region’s current total employment of 99,400 as of Q1 2019. St. Charles Health System tops the list again, employing over 4,400 people region-wide.
According to Damon Runberg, regional economist at the Oregon Employment Department, 78% of Oregon establishments had nine or fewer employees and the average private establishment employed 11 people in 2018.
“A big ‘thank you’ to all the tri-county companies, non-profits, cities and counties that provided information for these lists,” said Roger Lee, CEO of EDCO. “While our economy is dominated by small employers, the region has, over time, also attracted and grown some significant employers.”
EDCO often fields requests about the employment base and largest private employers from both traded-sector companies (manufacturers, high technology, and some professional service companies) and non-traded sector (retail and commercial businesses, education, health care, hospitality, construction, etc.) looking to evaluate the region for investment and new or expanded operations.
EDCO’s regional list focuses on private (for-profit and non-profit) employers, while those at the community level include both private and public employees.
“This data shows that although Central Oregon attracts many large employers, we are still a region dominated by smaller businesses,” said Elise Rossman, director of marketing and communications for EDCO.
St. Charles Health System grew by more than 200 workers in its 2019 figures, while Bright Wood Corp., which moved up from third to second on the list, grew from under 1,000 employees to over 1,100. Sunriver Resort, meanwhile, slipped to No.3 with 1,000 workers, down about 100. Mt. Bachelor moved up two slots, to No. 4, as it grew from 840 workers to 975.
The biggest mover is new to the entire Top 50 list — California-based Rosendin Electric, which debuted in the No. 7 slot with more than 600 workers.Rossman noted the California-based firm expanded its presence in Prineville for its growing data center work and bought a former bowling alley for its offices in the city.
To view the lists in their entirety, click on the links below:
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Bend
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Redmond
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Jefferson County
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Crook County
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Sisters
2019 Central Oregon Largest Employers – Sunriver_La Pine
Data for the lists is self-reported and not audited, so are only to be used as an informational guideline. Some businesses chose not to participate in these lists and are therefore excluded.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon
EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. For more information, visit www.edcoinfo.com.
