About 1 in 5 of Central Oregon’s workers are employed by the top 50 largest employers in the region, according to the annual survey produced by Economic Development for Central Oregon, a job creation nonprofit.

In the annual survey, St. Charles Health System ranked No. 1 with 4,791 employees, an 8.9% increase over the same time the year before, according to the EDCO top employers list. In fact, the health system has ranked No. 1 since 2013.

“Much of the growth in employment at St. Charles can be attributed to a reduction in our vacancy rate,” said Rebecca Berry, St. Charles Health System chief of human resources.

In early 2023, the health system’s vacancy rate was 20%, but today it hovers around 7%, Berry said.

Mt. Bachelor ski area ranked No. 2, just has it has over the past three years, according to the annual ranking. Joining the top 10 — up from No. 16 the year before — is Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook Data Center in Prineville, which grew its workforce from 350 in 2023 to 600 in 2024, according to the EDCO ranking.

Sunriver Resort, which was ranked No. 6 with 950 employees this year, attributes its growth to reinvestment in the resort, said Tom O’Shea, Sunriver Resort’s managing director.

The resort added year-round amenities like 18 pickleball courts, O’Shea said. In addition, the resort added to its portfolio of vacation properties that it manages, he said.

For the past couple of years, unemployment rates in Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes counties have hovered near record lows. Of late, however, unemployment rates have inched up, but job growth continues to climb, according to employment data.

The region’s ability to add jobs comes from its growing population, said Jake Procino, Oregon Employment Department economist. Tracking the employment growth provides proof that new businesses bringing new jobs are coming into Central Oregon.

“A rise in employment is due to an increase in the number people entering the labor force,” Porcino said. “If the number of entrants into the labor force outpaces the number of people hired, you can see a rise in the employment level and a rise in the unemployment rate.”

It fits that the health system grew last year. As Oregon’s population ages, more demand is placed on the health care sector of the economy. In Deschutes County, the health care industry has grown 12.5% from 2019-2023, Procino said

Jumping up in the ranking was Epic Aircraft LLC, which saw its employment ranking go from 28th in 2023 to 12th place this year, according to the EDCO ranking. Deschutes Brewery also added people in 2024, putting it at 25th on the ranking, compared to 46th in 2022.

“Private, traded-sector businesses makes Central Oregon more resilient in times of economic shifts and enriches the quality of life across our communities,” Jon Stark, EDCO CEO, said in a prepared statement. “It’s gratifying to see companies flourish and increase employment opportunities in Central Oregon.”

EDCO works with startups and established businesses to overcome challenges of workforce development, market research, land use, physical space needs and access to capital, Stark said.

The employment numbers used in the ranking are self-reported and not audited, according to EDCO.

Top 50 list

To see the full list, go to https://edcoinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Central-Oregon-Top-50-Private-Employers-1.pdf