[5]
By Oregon Business & Industry [6],
April 23, 2026 – OBI’s online data dashboard, the Oregon Scorecard [7], received several updates during the first half of April:
‘Best States’ ranking: Chief Executive released its annual Best and Worst States for Business ranking [8], and Oregon dropped two positions to 46 [9], topping only Washington, Illinois, New York and California. In addition to the ranking itself, the accompanying analysis [10] is worth reading.
GDP growth: Oregon’s economy grew only 1% in 2025 [11], less than half the national rate of 2.1%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Not since 2020, when the state’s GDP shrank 1.3% during the COVID pandemic, has Oregon’s economy experienced such weakness.
GDP growth rank: OBI added this data point to the Oregon Scorecard in April. Oregon’s 1% rate of economic growth in 2025 ranked the state only 44th nationally [12], according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is the lowest ranking in at least 20 years [12]. Oregon’s ranking has decreased steadily since 2015, when Oregon’s economy grew at the nation’s fastest rate.
Employment: Oregon’s average monthly total nonfarm employment fell by 0.5% in 2025 [13] while nonfarm employment grew by 0.5% nationally. This represents the sixth consecutive year in which Oregon employment growth has trailed the national average.
Private sector employment: Oregon’s average monthly private sector employment fell by 0.8% in 2025 [14] while private sector employment grew by 0.5% nationally. As with total employment, this represents the sixth straight year in which Oregon employment growth has trailed the national average.
Industry sector employment: OBI updated 2025 employment statistics for eight industry sectors. Go to the Oregon Scorecard Economy & Employment page [15] to see these. Notable declines occurred in manufacturing [16], which saw employment fall 3.7% (as a percentage, no state declined more) while manufacturing employment fell 1.2% nationally; and construction [17], in which employment fell by 3.5% compared with an increase of 0.7% nationally. In only two of the eight sectors did Oregon employment growth top the national average: private education and health services [18] (3.5% in Oregon vs. 3.2% nationally) and government [19] (1.1% in Oregon vs 0.6% nationally).
Labor force participation: Oregon’s labor force participation rate increased to 62.9% [20] in 2025 from 62.6% in 2024. The national average rate in 2025 was 62.4%.
Unemployment rate: Oregon’s average monthly unemployment rate increased to 5.2% [21] in 2025, topping the national average rate of 4.3% as well as the state’s 2024 rate, 4.3%.
State, local taxes per capita: Oregon ranked 16th in fiscal year 2023 for state and local taxes per capita [22], two places higher (meaning higher per-capita taxes) than in fiscal year 2022, when the state ranked 18th. The state collected $7,604 in state and local taxes in 2023, a 9.9% annual increase.
State revenue per capita: Oregon collected $12,143 in state revenue per capita [23] in fiscal year 2023, a 7.6% increase over fiscal year 2022. By that measure, Oregon ranked 9th among states, rising from 11th in 2022. Revenue includes both taxes and non-tax funds like fees.
State, local revenue per capita: Oregon collected $16,570 in state and local revenue per capita [24] in fiscal year 2023, a 7.5% increase over fiscal year 2022. By that measure, Oregon ranked 8th [25], rising from 10th in 2022. Revenue includes taxes as well as non-tax funds like fees.
Visit the Oregon Scorecard [7] here.