Multnomah County Attracts Residents From Every State

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Over the last several years, new residents have arrived in Multnomah County from every state in the nation, along with Africa, Asia, Central America, and Europe, according to new data from the Oregon Employment Department.

Over 55 percent of Multnomah County’s new residents between 2008 and 2012 came from outside the state. People from California and Washington together accounted for close to half of new residents. Arizona, New York, and Texas were the other leading states.

Multnomah County’s economic growth and location is a draw for many people, according to Portland Development Commission Spokesman Shawn Uhlman.

“There are tremendous economic opportunities here and couple that with the absolute beauty for this part of the country,” Uhlman said.

Oregon has been a popular destination for decades. Since 1961, the state has only seen three years where more people moved out of the state than in. In 2013 and 2012, Oregon was the nation’s leading destination for people moving, according to a study by United Van Lines.

The Portland population growth has outpaced the nation in the past, growing faster in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, according to Charles Rynerson, a demographer with Population Research Center. Between 1990 and 2014, the population of the Portland metro area increased by 800,000 people, or 53 percent. Meanwhile, the nation as a whole only grew by 28 percent.

Portland's Economy

Rynerson said the Portland metro-area economy is partly responsible for the attraction.

“Generally places in the U.S. that have job growth attract people from all over the U.S. and other parts of the world,” Rynerson said. “It’s about economic opportunity.”

Portland was called one of the fastest growing economies in 2013 by Bloomburg, with an annual GDP growth of 5.23 percent. Portland has been ranked with the top metro areas for white collar jobs and destination for college graduates. Oregon is close to pre-recession employment levels, according to the Oregon Economic Review and Forecast in Nov. 2014.

The city’s promise of opportunity is attracting businesses as well as employees, Uhlman said. Uhlman said many athletic and outdoor companies, such as Nike or Columbia Sportswear, come to the area to develop and test their products.

Joe Cortright is an economist at Portland-based firm Impresa. He said as more people move to metro areas looking for jobs, it also motivates companies and business to set up shop where talented employees.

“Job growth in cites is a bit of dual causality. A relatively attractive place to is live is attractive to companies for the pool of talent,” Cortright said.

Global Destination

As Portland grows as a national location, it increases its global reputation as well. Uhlman said the PDC and Portland firms work with companies based in China, Japan, and Columbia. The We Build Green Cities project has increased business and recognition between the countries. Portland was praised as one of the nation’s leaders in global export plans this year by the Brookings Institute.

“Other cities are recognizing [Portland’s] rise to prominence,” Uhlman said. “The opportunities that are here for finding direct investments are a two way street.”

As more people move to Portland, residents will have to adjust to the larger population. Rynerson said in spite of negative effects, such as more competition for housing and congested roads, more residents also means more restaurants and entertainment options.

With an increasing population, Cortright said Portland will have to find a way to keep the qualities that brought people to the city in the first place.

“The challenge is, how do you maintain the core values of the place and why people come here in the first place?” Cortright said. “One of Portland’s strengths over time is its relatively easy to engage in the community as we cope with change.”