Fastest-growing job markets in the Pacific Northwest
Key facts
- #1 Marion County, OR: +7.7%
- #2 Benton County, WA: +5.9%
- #3 Yamhill County, OR: +5.7%
- 23 counties ranked in the Pacific Northwest
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: +0.3% across all large counties.
- 1Marion County OR+7.7%
- 2Benton County WA+5.9%
- 3Yamhill County OR+5.7%
- 4Deschutes County OR+5.3%
- 5Snohomish County WA+4.6%
- 6Skagit County WA+3.6%
- 7Clark County WA+3.3%
- 8Pierce County WA+3.3%
- 9Thurston County WA+2.4%
- 10Jackson County OR+1.9%
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Marion County (+7.7%) is well clear of Jackson County at #10 (+1.9%).
- Yamhill County reaches #3 on a sample of 35,609 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Pierce County is the largest market in the top ten, with 276,587 jobs behind its figure.
- Counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Private-sector job counts and population growth show which counties are adding people and work, rather than which are already large.
How to use it
If you are choosing where to settle, growth counties often have newer employers still building teams. Read the county page for its largest employers and layoffs.
The top 25
- 1
Marion County OR
+7.7%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 136,757
- Jobs added since 2022
- +9,745
- Population since 2020
- +2.7%
Based on 136,757 jobs.
- 2
Benton County WA
+5.9%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 86,994
- Jobs added since 2022
- +4,844
- Population since 2020
- +6.9%
Based on 86,994 jobs.
- 3
Yamhill County OR
+5.7%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 35,609
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,915
- Population since 2020
- +2.2%
Based on 35,609 jobs.
- 4
Deschutes County OR
+5.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 83,459
- Jobs added since 2022
- +4,236
- Population since 2020
- +6.8%
Based on 83,459 jobs.
- 5
Snohomish County WA
+4.6%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 257,388
- Jobs added since 2022
- +11,396
- Population since 2020
- +4.9%
Based on 257,388 jobs.
- 6
Skagit County WA
+3.6%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 41,382
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,447
- Population since 2020
- +2.4%
Based on 41,382 jobs.
- 7
Clark County WA
+3.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 154,948
- Jobs added since 2022
- +4,964
- Population since 2020
- +5.3%
Based on 154,948 jobs.
- 8
Pierce County WA
+3.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 276,587
- Jobs added since 2022
- +8,707
- Population since 2020
- +2.5%
Based on 276,587 jobs.
- 9
Thurston County WA
+2.4%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 85,964
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,986
- Population since 2020
- +2.8%
Based on 85,964 jobs.
- 10
Jackson County OR
+1.9%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 80,868
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,543
- Population since 2020
- −0.9%
Based on 80,868 jobs.
- 11
Clackamas County OR
+1.7%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 157,803
- Jobs added since 2022
- +2,654
- Population since 2020
- +0.9%
Based on 157,803 jobs.
- 12
Spokane County WA
+1.6%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 206,384
- Jobs added since 2022
- +3,153
- Population since 2020
- +3.2%
Based on 206,384 jobs.
- 13
Whatcom County WA
+0.8%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 78,177
- Jobs added since 2022
- +644
- Population since 2020
- +3.9%
Based on 78,177 jobs.
- 14
Kitsap County WA
+0.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 59,140
- Jobs added since 2022
- +32
- Population since 2020
- +2.7%
Based on 59,140 jobs.
- 15
Grant County WA
−0.0%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 33,446
- Jobs added since 2022
- −13
- Population since 2020
- +6.3%
Based on 33,446 jobs.
- 16
Lane County OR
−0.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 130,846
- Jobs added since 2022
- −103
- Population since 2020
- −0.7%
Based on 130,846 jobs.
- 17
Yakima County WA
−0.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 97,163
- Jobs added since 2022
- −271
- Population since 2020
- +1.0%
Based on 97,163 jobs.
- 18
Cowlitz County WA
−1.0%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 34,461
- Jobs added since 2022
- −360
- Population since 2020
- +3.5%
Based on 34,461 jobs.
- 19
Douglas County OR
−1.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 30,893
- Jobs added since 2022
- −411
- Population since 2020
- +0.6%
Based on 30,893 jobs.
- 20
Linn County OR
−1.5%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 41,938
- Jobs added since 2022
- −619
- Population since 2020
- +3.0%
Based on 41,938 jobs.
- 21
Washington County OR
−1.6%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 277,540
- Jobs added since 2022
- −4,618
- Population since 2020
- +1.8%
Based on 277,540 jobs.
- 22
King County WA
−2.2%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 1,255,504
- Jobs added since 2022
- −28,692
- Population since 2020
- +3.1%
Based on 1,255,504 jobs.
- 23
Multnomah County OR
−2.8%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 415,659
- Jobs added since 2022
- −12,038
- Population since 2020
- −2.6%
Based on 415,659 jobs.
Full ranking
All 23 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | County | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion County OR | +7.7% | 136,757 |
| 2 | Benton County WA | +5.9% | 86,994 |
| 3 | Yamhill County OR | +5.7% | 35,609 |
| 4 | Deschutes County OR | +5.3% | 83,459 |
| 5 | Snohomish County WA | +4.6% | 257,388 |
| 6 | Skagit County WA | +3.6% | 41,382 |
| 7 | Clark County WA | +3.3% | 154,948 |
| 8 | Pierce County WA | +3.3% | 276,587 |
| 9 | Thurston County WA | +2.4% | 85,964 |
| 10 | Jackson County OR | +1.9% | 80,868 |
| 11 | Clackamas County OR | +1.7% | 157,803 |
| 12 | Spokane County WA | +1.6% | 206,384 |
| 13 | Whatcom County WA | +0.8% | 78,177 |
| 14 | Kitsap County WA | +0.1% | 59,140 |
| 15 | Grant County WA | −0.0% | 33,446 |
| 16 | Lane County OR | −0.1% | 130,846 |
| 17 | Yakima County WA | −0.3% | 97,163 |
| 18 | Cowlitz County WA | −1.0% | 34,461 |
| 19 | Douglas County OR | −1.3% | 30,893 |
| 20 | Linn County OR | −1.5% | 41,938 |
| 21 | Washington County OR | −1.6% | 277,540 |
| 22 | King County WA | −2.2% | 1,255,504 |
| 23 | Multnomah County OR | −2.8% | 415,659 |
How this ranking works
A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.
Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2022 to 2025; Census Bureau population estimates, 2020 to 2025. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which county ranks first: fastest-growing job markets in the pacific northwest?
- Marion County leads the Pacific Northwest for job growth: private-sector jobs are +7.7% since 2022, against +0.3% across all large counties.
- How many counties are ranked?
- 23 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 23 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
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- Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Pacific Northwest
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- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Fastest-growing job markets in the Pacific Northwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-pacific-northwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-pacific-northwest">Fastest-growing job markets in the Pacific Northwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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