Sherman County’s 2021 Payroll Reaches $50 Million
November 29, 2022Sherman County’s total all ownerships payroll grew by $1.6 million in 2021 to total $50 million, an increase of 3.3%. Government payroll rose by $0.9 million to reach $20.2 million (+4.5%). Private industry payrolls rose to $29.8 million, an increase of $0.7 million (+2.5%). Oregon’s 2021 payroll rose by 9.4% or $10.4 billion to reach $120.4 billion.
Total all industries and ownerships (private and government) employment in Sherman County fell by 17 jobs or 1.8% in 2021. Sherman County’s job loss ranked 35th in 2021, just behind Malheur (-0.4%) but ahead Gilliam (-8.9%). Crook County’s 7.5% employment increase ranked firstin 2021; 33 of 36 Oregon counties added jobs. Oregon’s 2021 employment rose by about 44,300 jobs or 2.4% to 1,880,900.
Oregon’s average wage reached $64,018 in 2021, exceeding Sherman County’s $54,716 by about $9,300 or 15%. Sherman County’s average wage ranked ninth highest in Oregon, rising from 10th in 2020. Sherman County’s average wage ranked just behind Marion in eighth ($55,658) and just ahead of Lane ($52,596). The annual wage gap exceeded $10,000 for 27 of Oregon’s 36 counties in 2021. Only two counties, Multnomah ($72,532) and Washington ($86,181), exceeded Oregon’s 2021 average wage. Multnomah County boasted Oregon’s largest payroll in 2021, with $34.9 billion or 29% of Oregon’s total payroll. Washington County’s 2021 payroll, at $25.2 billion ranked second (Sherman 34th). Together the two metro counties held 49.9% of Oregon’s $120.4 billion payroll while hosting 41.1% of its jobs. Excluding Multnomah and Washington, average pay for Oregon’s remaining 34 counties falls to $54,460, a drop of about $9,600 or 15%.
Sherman County’s 2021 private industry payroll totaled $29.8 million, rising by 2.5% or $0.8 million. Sherman County’s private industry employment fell to 615 jobs in 2021, a loss of 12 or 1.9%. Confidentiality was an issue for a few industries in Sherman County, with breakouts for manufacturing (2 units), information (1 unit), and financial activities (2 units) suppressed due to confidentiality.
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities led private industry payroll growth in 2021 rising by $0.9 million or 13.2% to total $7.6 million. Employment rose by 13 jobs or 9.8% to average 146. Annual wages reached $52,171, trailing Sherman County’s 2021 average by about $2,500.
Retail trade produced a payroll gain of 17.3% in 2021, rising by $0.5 million to total $3.4 million. Employment in retail trade fell to 124 jobs (-1). Wages in the industry averaged $27,664 in 2021, trailing the county’s average wage by about $27,000.
Professional and business services increased its payroll by $0.8 million or 35.7%, rising to $3.0 million. Employment held steady at 33 jobs despite the industry’s tremendous payroll gain. Annual wages in professional and business services reached $92,313 in 2021, an increase of 35.7% or $24,287.
Payrolls in leisure and hospitality rose by $0.7 million or 34.9% in 2021 to reach $2.6 million. Employment also impressed, rising by 20 jobs or 25.6% to reach 98. Wages in leisure and hospitality averaged $26,432, lagging Sherman County’s 2021 pay by about $28,300.
Construction cut its payrolls sharply in 2021, falling to $4.9 million, a loss of $1.9 million or 28.1%. Construction employment dropped to 57, a loss of 26 jobs or 31.3%. Despite the job loss, pay rose to $85,294 (+4.7%), exceeding Sherman County’s all average by about $30,600.
Federal government led public ownerships with a payroll gain of $0.8 million, rising to $13.0 million. Federal government represented 65% of government payrolls in 2021; and 42% of its jobs. Federal government employment held steady at 125 jobs, while its pay averaged $104,234, exceeding the county’s all ownerships wage by about $49,500.