Umatilla County’s 2021 Payroll Rose by $115.9 Million

August 2, 2022

Umatilla County’s total all industries and ownerships payroll grew by $115.9 million in 2021 to total almost $1.5 billion, an increase of 8.5%. Umatilla’s 8.5% payroll increase ranked 23^rd among Oregon’s 36 counties in 2021. Government payroll rose by $31.8 million to reach $398.7 million (+8.7%). Private industry payrolls rose to almost $1.1 billion, an increase of $84.1 million (+8.4%). Over the two-year 2019 to 2021 period, private industry payrolls increased by $138.2 million (+14.6%) and government payrolls rose by $35.2 million (+9.7%). Oregon’s 2021 payroll rose by 9.4% or $10.4 billion to reach $120.4 billion.
Total all industries and ownerships employment growth lagged payroll growth in 2021, rising by 542 jobs to average 30,941, an increase of 1.8%. Umatilla County remained about 590 jobs (-1.9%) below its 2019 employment peak (31,532 jobs) despite its 2021 rebound. Oregon’s 2021 employment rose by about 44,300 jobs or 2.4% to 1,880,900. Umatilla County’s job growth ranked 25^th in 2021 with Crook County’s 7.5% increase ranking first; 33 of 36 Oregon counties added jobs in 2021.

Oregon’s average wage reached $64,018 in 2021, exceeding Umatilla County’s $47,973 by about $16,000 or 25%. Umatilla’s average wage ranked 17^th highest in Oregon, dropping from 16^th highest in 2020. Umatilla County’s average wage ($47,973) ranked just behind Douglas in 16^th ($48,205) and just ahead of Hood River ($47,607). The annual wage gap exceeded $10,000 for 26 of Oregon’s 36 counties in 2021. Only two counties, Multnomah ($72,532) and Washington ($86,181), exceeded Oregon’s 2021 average wage. Multnomah County boasted Oregon’s largest payroll in 2021, with $34.9 billion or 29% of Oregon’s total payroll. Washington County’s 2021 payroll, at $25.2 billion, ranked second (Umatilla 26^th). Together the two metro counties held 49.9% of Oregon’s $120.4 billion payroll while hosting 41.1% of its jobs. Excluding Multnomah and Washington, average pay for Oregon’s remaining 34 counties falls to $54,460, a drop of about $9,600 or 15%.

Umatilla County’s private industry payroll rose by $84.1 million in 2021 to total $1.1 billion, an increase of 8.4%. Private industry employment rose to 24,104, an increase of 368 jobs or 1.6%. Private industry remains 375 jobs or 1.5% below its 2019 peak. Between 2019 and 2021 Umatilla County’s private industry payroll rose by 14.6% or $138.2 million.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities led Umatilla County in 2021 with a payroll gain of $14.9 million or 11.2%, rising to $148.6 million. Employment grew by 154 jobs to average 2,398 and annual wages reached $61,970, nearly $14,000 above the county’s 2021 average.

Manufacturing enjoyed a payroll increase of $13.0 million or 9.6%, rising to $148.9 million in 2021. Employment in manufacturing fell by 1.3% or 40 jobs to average 3,038. Manufacturing’s average wage rose by $4,857 or 11% to $49,004. Manufacturing wages exceeded Umatilla County’s all ownerships average by just over $1,000 or 2%.

Education and health services increased its 2021 payroll by $12.9 million or 7%. Employment fell despite the industry’s payroll gain, falling to 3,971, a loss of 54 jobs or 1.3%. Education and health services maintained its rank as Umatilla County’s largest private industry in 2021, based on both employment and payroll. The average wage in health care and social assistance reached $49,354, an increase of 8.5% or $3,861.

Retail trade produced a payroll gain of 11.6% in 2021, rising by $11.8 million to total $113.1 million. Employment rose by 162 jobs or 4.9% to average 3,451. Wages in retail trade averaged $32,786 in 2021, trailing Umatilla County’s all industries average by nearly $15,200. From 2019 to 2021, retail trade increased its payroll total by 22% or $20.4 million.

Leisure and hospitality increased its payroll by $9.1 million or 21.2% in 2021, rising to $51.7 million. Employment rose to 2,410 in 2021, an increase of about 140 jobs or 6.1%. Leisure and hospitality’s annual wage rose by $2,674 to average $21,458, about $26,500 below Umatilla County’s average pay. Leisure and hospitality’s 2021 payroll ranked just above wholesale trade ($50.9 million) but trailed professional and business services ($59.3 million). The industry remained 218 jobs or 8.3% below its 2019 pre-pandemic peak.

Information enjoyed a payroll increase of 16.3% in 2021, rising by $7.0 million to $49.8 million. Information paid an average $93,760 in 2021, an increase of about $3,800 or 4.2% over 2020. Employment in information rose by 11.6% or 55 jobs in 2021 to average 531.

Natural resources and mining increased its payrolls by 4.8% or $6 million in 2021 to reach $132.5 million. Despite the payroll gain, natural resources and mining suffered an employment loss of 96 jobs or 2.7%, falling to 3,454 jobs. The industry also cut jobs in 2020, with employment down 288 jobs or 7.7% since 2019. Payrolls grew despite the industry’s job losses, rising by $10.5 million or 8.6% since 2019. Average pay in natural resources and mining rose by 7.7% in 2021 to reach $38,365, lagging Umatilla County’s average by about 9,600 or 20%.

Payrolls in professional and business services rose by 10.4% in 2021 to reach $59.3 million. Employment increased by 69 jobs or 5.7% to total 1,273 and the industry’s average pay climbed to $46,555. Between 2019 and 2021 professional and business services increased its payrolls by 17.1% or $8.6 million while adding 71 jobs.

Construction cut employment and payroll in 2021 – but the industry remained 30 jobs ahead of its 2019 average. Employment fell by 20 jobs or 1.6% in 2021 to average 1,228, while payrolls dropped to $68.9 million, a loss of $3.1 million. Construction pay also experienced a loss in 2021, falling by $1,616 or 2.8% to average $56,129. Despite the loss, construction industry pay exceeded Umatilla County’s all ownerships average by 17% or $8,156.

Government produced a 2021 payroll increase of $31.8 million or 8.7%. Government employment rose by 174 jobs or 2.6% and its average wage reached $58,310, an increase of 5.9%. Despite the 2021 employment increase, government remained 216 jobs or 3.1% below its 2019 average. State government idled 17 jobs in 2021 and its payrolls rose by 5.9% to $108.4 million. State government pay averaged $76,518, about $28,500 above Umatilla County’s average. Federal government payrolls rose by $2.7 million or 7.4% to total $39.7 million and employment held steady with 473 jobs. Federal government wages exceeded Umatilla County’s all industries average by $35,971, paying an average $83,944. Local government payrolls rose by $23.0 million to total $250.5 million in 2021, up 10.1%. Local government employment rose by 191 jobs to average 4,947, while its pay reached $50,644, an increase of $2,811 or 5.9%.