Lane County Jobs Projected to Increase 6% by 2034
March 20, 2026Lane County’s total employment will grow by 10,900 jobs (6%) between 2024 and 2034, according to projections from the Oregon Employment Department. The projections are primarily due to modest structural job growth in the economy. In addition, many job openings are expected due to the need to replace workers who leave their occupations.
In 2024, there were 174,800 jobs in Lane County. The 6% increase in employment between 2024 and 2034 includes private-sector gains of 9,700 jobs, 500 jobs in government, and an additional 700 job gain in self-employed Lane County residents. In comparison, Oregon statewide total employment is also expected to grow 6%.
Most Industries Add Jobs
Most major industry sectors are expected to add jobs. Private education and health services is projected to add the most jobs and have the fastest proportional growth. The projected 4,000 jobs (13%) in this sector are attributed to longer life expectancies and population growth. In addition, Lane County has become a regional health care center, serving people from outside the county. Health care is projected to account for over one out of four new jobs created by 2034.
Professional and business services is a large sector expected to add 1,700 jobs, or 10% over the ten-year period. Management, scientific, and technical consulting (31%), Scientific, research and development (25%), and architectural and engineering services (23%), contribute to much of the growth. Additional growth is added by computer and systems design partly through demand for cybersecurity. These gains will be countered somewhat by losses in business services, especially in call centers.
Leisure and hospitality and construction have relatively fast growth at 9% each.
While overall employment and jobs in many sectors are expected to grow beyond their recent peak levels, some sectors will fall short of their peak employment by 2034. Retail trade only grows by 1% over the decade to reach 19,200 by 2034. Its peak was 20,700 in 2009. Retail trade has generally lost jobs in recent years due online shopping.
Manufacturing employment is expected to grow by 3% to 14,800 jobs. That is well below its most recent peak of 20,300 jobs in 2006. Some components of manufacturing – such as overall nondurable goods (4%) – show higher projected growth rates. Meanwhile, wood product manufacturing is projected to have no net growth by 2034
The information sector is projected to remain at 1,900 over the decade, about 2,100 jobs below its last peak in 2007. In the information sector, growth in the software publishing industry will be countered by losses in print publishing and media.
Projections show relatively modest growth in government (2%). Federal government is expected to drop 100 jobs. State government is expected to add 100 jobs (5%). Local government will add only 500 jobs (2%), caused in part to slowing in education due to a demographic shift away from the school age population.
All Industries Need Workers
Whether growing rapidly or showing a net loss by 2034, all broad industries provide employment opportunities. Job openings will be created due to the need to replace workers who retire, leave the labor force for other reasons, or make a major occupational change.
More information on 2024-2034 industry and occupational projections for Oregon and sub-state areas can be found at QualityInfo.org/projections.