Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Southwest Washington-Portland metropolitan area. Currently, the industry makes up approximately 10% of the region’s private sector employment and is projected to grow by 17% over the next ten years.
To help healthcare companies across the region meet their workforce needs, we partner with the workforce councils in nearby Oregon. Working together as the Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC), we meet with businesses to learn about their needs and bring together resources in education, training and employment services to help companies attract and hire new talent or improve the skills of their existing employees.
We focus on all areas of the sector, including: medical (hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities – both patient and non-patient facing jobs), dental, behavioral health, long-term care/assisted living/memory care, and pet health.
Resources for Companies
Healthcare Labor Market Report 2022 – This report is a state of the industry workforce in the six-county Southwest Washington-Portland Metro Area.
Healthcare Workforce Plan 2025-2027 – Led by companies and the needs they identified, we created a regional workforce development plan with partners at CWWC.
Healthcare Video – Hear from some of Southwest Washington’s leading healthcare companies.
Workforce Plan
Under the guidance of employers, education partners, associations and other interested parties, WSW and its CWWC partners developed the “Healthcare Workforce Plan 2025-2027” with goals to:
- Connect youth and job seekers to education, training, and apprenticeships to occupations in healthcare
- Advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the Healthcare Industry
- Retain Healthcare Professionals in the field
We meet quarterly with organizations to gather information and present on strategies and achievement of plan goals.
Healthcare Labor Market Information
Top 20 In-Demand Healthcare Occupations in SW WA
| Occupation | Total Employed | Mean Annual Wages |
| Registered Nurses | 4,380 | $119,300 |
| Health Practitioner Support Technologists and Technicians | 1,209 | $57,300 |
| Therapists | 1,108 | $102,800 |
| Physicians | 1,077 | $305,500 |
| Miscellaneous Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners | 607 | $112,700 |
| Diagnostic Related Technologists and Technicians | 601 | $99,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 506 | $79,100 |
| Pharmacists | 475 | $157,000 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | 436 | $74,800 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 384 | $148,700 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 375 | $60,800 |
| Dentists | 338 | $211,000 |
| Miscellaneous Health Technologists and Technicians | 328 | $68,900 |
| Medical Records Specialists | 291 | $63,200 |
| Physician Assistants | 245 | $154,700 |
| Veterinarians | 184 | $131,000 |
| Chiropractors | 171 | $95,800 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | 144 | $63,000 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 103 | $85,600 |
| Surgeons | 93 | $423,900 |
Data Source JobsEQ 2024 Q4
Healthcare Demographics in SW WA
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Meet Your Healthcare Rep
Sean Moore is the Senior Project Manager for our Workforce SW Washington team. He works directly with Healtchcare businesses in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties to identify investment opportunities for training and employment.
Prior to joining WSW’s team, Sean was the Regional Healthcare Business Solutions Consultant for WorkSource. He led the sector team which worked with businesses to identify employment opportunities. The team also worked with job seekers interested in pursuing a healthcare career and connected them to jobs.
Sean is a graduate of Portland State University’s Business School, where he earned his B.S. in Business/Marketing. He spent several years working in the Pacific Islands before returning to the Northwest. He is a board member for the Bridgeview Resource Center, on several community advisory committees for the healthcare programs at Clark College and has a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion education and initiatives.
Sean Moore, Senior Project Manager – Healthcare
Email Sean
Reach out to Sean to schedule a meeting so you can learn about workforce development services for your business.
To get involved in our industry panel, receive notices of meetings and/or the industry e-newsletter, or learn more about resources for healthcare companies, please contact Sean Moore, Senior Project Manager – Healthcare. Email Sean or call at 360.762.8569
