Springfield offers a variety of excellent resources for businesses, including innovation and research support, programs dedicated to fostering a nurturing climate for entrepreneurs and a wide range of financing resources for companies to meet their business growth needs.
Springfield employers primarily draw from the Springfield-Eugene metro area population of 262,715 (Census Bureau Dec. 2018). More traditional unemployment rates have historically averaged around 4% and as our region rebounds strongly from impacts of the global COVID 19 pandemic, our current unemployment rate continues to decline.
Growing Our Market
Springfield has seen an influx of national brands coming to the market, as well as ongoing business expansion and a number of local startup companies. Projections through 2024 forecast continued industry growth and opportunities in a wide range of nationally projected, high-output industries.
Locally, targeted industry sectors include Technology, Medical Technology, Specialty Food Products and Value-Added Wood Products.
A Developing Labor Force
The Springfield area labor force benefits from a strong concentration of quality post-secondary educational institutions and development initiatives to provide a skilled and highly trained employment pool to meet your staffing needs.
Within 100 miles of Springfield, students and adults seeking to further their education have access to 20 public and private colleges, including the University of Oregon’s campus in Eugene, just minutes away from Downtown Springfield and Oregon State University, a 45-minute drive to the north.
Workforce Development Initiatives:
- Experience Oregon, organized by Tech Association of Oregon (TAO), provides transportation of high school and college students to Springfield employers
- Elevate Lane County places 300 students with jobs, internships and business tours using a new tech platform for matching students with businesses. Skills badges and online testing is in development, partnering with TAO, healthcare, manufacturing, and natural resources industries
- Career Technical Education programs in local Springfield schools feature studies in advanced wood products, natural resources, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing and robotics/engineering
- #Work Ready partnership and programs with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce support your involvement in the talent pipeline beginning with k-12.
Average Salaries
The benefit to your company operating in Springfield is the benefit to your employees ability to access a desirable quality of life. With affordable average wages and costs of living, Springfield provides an opportunity for capturing the great talent where they want to live.
