Oregon employers report record 53,300 job vacancies

Oregon businesses reported a record 53,300 job vacancies this spring, state officials said Thursday.

It’s the largest number of vacancies ever captured by the Oregon Job Vacancy Survey, and an increase of 6,400 vacancies from the prior year. The growing number of vacancies reflects continued strength in Oregon’s labor market, officials said.

The ratio of unemployed Oregonians to vacancies dropped to 2-to-1 in the spring, after spending a year at 3-to-1. The national unemployed-to-vacancy ratio was also 2-to- 1. The 2-to-1 ratio is consistent with a strong economy: Oregon’s Job Vacancy Survey last showed a ratio this low, in the spring of 2008.

Amid solid economic growth and with many available job openings, employers are having a harder time finding the workers they need. Statewide, businesses reported that 61 percent of job vacancies were difficult to fill in the spring. That’s the highest percentage in the two and a half years of the quarterly Job Vacancy Survey.

“Many businesses are finding it’s getting more and more difficult to find skilled and qualified staff,” said Ken Madden, owner of Madden Industrial Craftsmen, Inc. and chair of the Oregon Workforce Investment Board. “That’s going to be a major challenge in Oregon, with increasing job openings and the retirement of a whole generation of workers.”

Businesses most commonly report a lack of applicants or a lack of qualified candidates as the primary reason for difficulty filling vacancies .

In the spring, the occupations with the largest number of difficult-to-fill vacancies in Oregon included personal care aides, several leisure and hospitality occupations such as cooks and maids, and various computer and production occupations.

Central Oregon businesses reported 6,300 vacancies in the spring. That’s 2,600 more vacancies compared with last spring. Central Oregon’s total was boosted by vacancies for wildland firefighters and leisure and hospitality workers. Central Oregon also reported the highest share of difficult-to-fill vacancies , at 71 percent.

About the Survey
The Oregon Employment Department’s Job Vacancy Survey started in May 2008 and became quarterly in 2013. This survey serves as a current indicator of hiring demand and focuses specifically on characteristics of vacancies for anyone seeking a job in Oregon.

In addition to developing the estimate of total vacancies in the state, the survey also provides insights on the industries hiring, wages offered, and education required. In recent years, the survey has also asked businesses whether their vacancies are difficult to fill.

The Employment Department publishes a quarterly summary of vacancy survey results, as well as annual, more detailed reports on wages, education requirements, and the reasons why businesses have difficulty filling openings.

Survey results are based on responses from private-sector businesses with at least two employees. Estimates for summer 2015 will be released in October.

For more details on recent Oregon job vacancies , visit the “publications” tab on QualityInfo.org and scroll down to the ” Job Vacancy Survey” section.