NextChapter

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.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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.

  1. 1Marion County OR+7.7%
  2. 2Benton County WA+5.9%
  3. 3Yamhill County OR+5.7%
  4. 4Deschutes County OR+5.3%
  5. 5Snohomish County WA+4.6%
  6. 6Skagit County WA+3.6%
  7. 7Clark County WA+3.3%
  8. 8Pierce County WA+3.3%
  9. 9Thurston County WA+2.4%
  10. 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.

The top 25

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Marion County OR+7.7%136,757
2Benton County WA+5.9%86,994
3Yamhill County OR+5.7%35,609
4Deschutes County OR+5.3%83,459
5Snohomish County WA+4.6%257,388
6Skagit County WA+3.6%41,382
7Clark County WA+3.3%154,948
8Pierce County WA+3.3%276,587
9Thurston County WA+2.4%85,964
10Jackson County OR+1.9%80,868
11Clackamas County OR+1.7%157,803
12Spokane County WA+1.6%206,384
13Whatcom County WA+0.8%78,177
14Kitsap County WA+0.1%59,140
15Grant County WA−0.0%33,446
16Lane County OR−0.1%130,846
17Yakima County WA−0.3%97,163
18Cowlitz County WA−1.0%34,461
19Douglas County OR−1.3%30,893
20Linn County OR−1.5%41,938
21Washington County OR−1.6%277,540
22King County WA−2.2%1,255,504
23Multnomah 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.

More 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.

The job market, once a week

One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.