An expanded Portland Business Journal ranking released Friday pulls back the curtain on 383 manufacturing firms across Oregon and southwest Washington, and together those companies employ more than 71,000 local workers. The digital roster builds on a print edition that featured just 54 firms and offers a broader cross section of makers, from food and timber processors to electronics and fabricated metal shops. For readers along the I 5 corridor, the package is billed as the most complete public snapshot yet of who still manufactures in the region.
The list, by the numbers
The Portland Business Journal compiled the online ranking and reports that it now includes 383 firms, an expansion that added 329 companies to the 54 shown in print. According to Portland Business Journal, the companies on the list collectively employ more than 71,000 local workers, and the roster is ranked by Oregon and southwest Washington employees. The Journal notes that inclusion required at least one local employee or a minimum of 50 total employees, and that employment estimates were drawn from firm questionnaires, company websites, PBJ archives and U.S. Department of Labor filings.
How that compares with state data
The Oregon Employment Department's monthly release shows manufacturing employed about 177,500 people statewide in December 2025, meaning the firms on PBJ’s roster represent roughly 40% of Oregon's manufacturing payroll, even after allowing for PBJ's coverage of some southwest Washington jobs. According to the state release, durable goods subindustries such as computer and electronic product manufacturing, with about 33,700 jobs, and wood product manufacturing, with about 22,300 jobs, remain large components of that total. The contrast underscores how a relatively small set of manufacturers concentrates a large share of regional production jobs, and why granular lists can matter for planning and workforce strategy.
Who shows up and what the list reveals
The expanded digital roster stretches from large, widely known manufacturers to smaller specialty shops that rarely land on print top employer lists. Per Portland Business Journal, the online edition gives readers access to a broader dataset behind the print story and offers downloadable detail for users who need firm level information. That kind of granularity can help workforce providers and economic developers target recruitment, training and supply chain support in parts of the state that are still anchored in food, timber and electronics manufacturing.
Why the timing matters
Manufacturing has been shedding jobs in recent years, and hiring has softened in several subsectors, which is why a comprehensive, searchable list lands at a critical moment for policymakers and workforce groups. As reported by OPB, state labor surveys found manufacturing hiring has "completely dropped off" in recent quarters, leaving fewer open positions and a tighter pipeline for skilled trades. For anyone tracking layoffs, reskilling efforts or reshoring activity, PBJ’s expanded roster offers a timely data point to help match openings with local training and placement programs.
