OPB’s First Look: Where Oregon expects job growth

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Good morning, Northwest.

We’re back in your inbox this morning after the holiday.

We start today’s newsletter with a look at the near-term future for Oregon’s economy.

OPB’s Kyra Buckley reports on expected growth in the health care industry and how it factors into Oregon’s overall economic picture.

Also this morning, Central Oregon gelatin enthusiasts celebrate jiggly holiday creations.

Here’s your First Look at Friday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

The health care industry expected to see Oregon’s greatest job growth over next decade

If you’re considering a career in health care, Oregon may have a job for you.

Oregon’s private health care and social assistance sector is expected to add 40,400 jobs over the next decade, making it the fastest growing industry according to the latest projections from the state’s Employment Department.

“Nearly all broad sectors of Oregon’s economy are expected to add jobs over the decade,” Sarah Cunningham, Oregon’s projection economist, said in a video news release. “The exception is federal government, which is projected to see a slight decline in jobs. Private health care and social assistance is expected to add the most jobs by 2034.”

That represents a 13% growth rate, Cunningham said, meaning three out of every 10 new jobs added will be in health care and social assistance.

Longer life expectancies, Oregon’s aging population and long-term population growth are all expected to contribute to the growing need for health care workers in the state. (Kyra Buckley)

Learn more

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3 things to know this morning

• If you’re wondering what you’re going to do with your Christmas tree, have you ever thought about turning it into a home … for fish? The North Clackamas Watersheds Council is one of a handful of environmental groups across Oregon that want to turn your tree into habitat for salmon and steelhead. (Alejandro Figueroa) 
• Oregon’s efforts to diversify its teaching workforce are going better than other states, but the Beaver State’s recent gains in licensing educators from underrepresented groups could begin to dwindle in 2026 due to possible budget cuts. (Tiffany Camhi) 
• The Oregon FFA could lose up to $1.1 million due to state budget cuts. The Oregon Agriculture Teacher’s Association is asking lawmakers to keep funding the program. (Alejandro Figueroa)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Oregon launches rebate program to help businesses pay for electric fleet vehicles (Monica Samayoa)
• Purelight Power lays off 84 Medford workers, citing Republican rollback of solar credits as it shuts down (Courtney Sherwood)
• Conservation groups urge Oregon to reduce whale deaths from crab fishing gear (Mia Maldonado)
• RFK Jr. declares public health emergency for Washington state flooding (Jake Goldstein-Street)
• An SOU class designs a space for intergenerational play (Roman Battaglia)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Authors Kristen Arnett and Jess Walter at the Portland Book Festival

Deschutes Historical Museum sets the mold with second annual gelatin show and competition

Earlier this month, contestants dug out family recipes or created new ones for the Deschutes Historical Museum’s second annual gelatin show.

Entries included a savory claim-juice salad, inedible sculptural works of gelatin-adorned art, a vegan salad using agar agar and all manner of family recipes. The only limit was a contestant’s gelatin mold.

Kelly Cannon-Miller and Rebekah Averette-Zaback concocted the idea in 2024 while looking at historical cookbooks. They found themselves talking about gelatin and that one weird salad that almost always shows up on family holiday tables.

After the first event, they were hoping people would come out a second time this year. And sure enough they did, for the love and loathe of gelatin. (Kathryn Styer Martínez)

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Correction: Wednesday’s newsletter included an incorrect link to Troy Brynelson’s story about Newport suing the Trump administration to prevent a potential detention center in town. The correct link is here. OPB regrets the error.

Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.