The Diversity of Oregon’s Industries
October 16, 2026
Oregon’s total nonfarm employment is less racially and ethnically diverse than average across the United States. The private sector of the U.S. workforce in 2025 included 25% non-white employment compared with Oregon’s 16%. Moreover, the ethnic diversity of the U.S. is more robust than Oregon – Hispanic or Latino workers hold 19% of private employment in the U.S. compared with 16% of all jobs in Oregon. Oregon’s lack of diversity in the workforce at large is almost entirely due to the overwhelmingly white population in Oregon. Even with limited diversity in Oregon’s total nonfarm employment, it is worth observing which industries are most diverse.
Race
Industries with the greatest racial diversity are defined here as those with the greatest average employment of people of color, meaning people from a race group other than white alone. In 2025, Oregon’s most racially diverse industries included management of companies and enterprises (18.7% share of people of color); accommodation and food services (18.7%); manufacturing (18.3%); and transportation and warehousing (17.6%). These are aggregate measures, but the differing industry shares of employment by each race is where the real differences lie.
Workers who identify as two or more race groups comprise 5% of Oregon’s total nonfarm employment. Their highest shares of industry employment are in accommodation and food services (5%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (5%); and retail trade (4%).
Aggregate Black or African American employment in Oregon is 3%, while their shares of industry employment are highest in transportation and warehousing (6%); administrative and support and waste services (5%); and health care and social assistance (5%).
American Indian or Alaska Native workers account for 2% of Oregon’s employment. Their highest shares of industry employment are in public administration (3%); accommodation and food services (2%); and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (2%).
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander employment in Oregon accounts for 1% of total employment. This cohort’s share of industry employment is highest in transportation and warehousing (1%); administrative and support and waste services (1%); and manufacturing (1%).
The least racially diverse industries are defined here as those that have the greatest shares of white alone employment. These industries include mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (93% white alone); construction (90%); and utilities (90%).
Ethnicity
Looking at the ethnic diversity of Oregon’s industries, we see a similar trend in many industries for their lack of diversity, though some are significantly more diverse than others. For ethnicity, individuals are classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as either “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” People of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.
One important caveat is that these employment metrics capture only a small portion of agricultural employment because the majority of the industry’s employment is not covered by unemployment insurance. As a result, the share of diverse employment in agriculture is likely understated in these graphs.
The Beauty of the World Lies in the Diversity of its People
Oregon doesn’t have the most diverse workforce in the nation – far from it – but the diversity of the workforce has increased as decades have passed. In 2001, people of color held only 9% of total nonfarm jobs. In 2025, that share increased six percentage points to 15%. With respect to ethnic diversity in employment, Oregon’s share of Hispanic or Latino employment was only 7% in 2001. As of 2025, that share more than doubled to 15% of total nonfarm employment. Diversity – in all its forms – is beneficial for all involved. It enhances creativity, encourages an array of perspectives, and leads to better decision-making and problem solving. People of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences coming together can be quite a powerful thing in building a more balanced labor force.