Top 5 Employers in Oregon: Which Companies Have the Most Jobs?

Economic experts in Oregon predict that by the end of the first quarter of 2015, the state will have as many jobs as it did before the recession. Wages also appear to be growing in the state, which is good news for Oregon's 2 million workers and for their employers.

Employers in Oregon are beginning to feel more confident, according to experts.

"The number of jobs has come back partially in Portland and now statewide jobs are starting to come back. The balance sheets for the majority of businesses look good," Josh Lehner, director of the Portland State University Business Accelerator, told the Portland Business Journal.

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The top employers in Oregon represent diverse industries. Here are the five largest employers in the state:

1. Providence Health System: The nonprofit network of hospitals and other healthcare facilities and services are part of a larger healthcare entity serving the Pacific Northwest. Providence employs about 18,500 Oregonians statewide, according to PolitiFact.

2. Intel: Hillsboro, Oregon, has been home to Intel's global semiconductor R&D concerns since 1974. In the past, the chipmaker has been named the most admired technology company and the most philanthropic company in Oregon. According to PolitiFact, the company employed 17,500 people in mid-2014.

3. Fred Meyer: Founded in 1922 in Portland, Fred Meyer consists of a chain of retail stores employing a total of 14,500 people across Oregon.

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4. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU): Essentially equal in number of employees with Fred Meyer, Oregon's only public health and research center, OHSU claims an economic impact of $4.3 billion. The university is Portland's largest employer, and with all of its medical entities, there are about 14,600 employees, the Business Journal reported.

5. Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart has 45 stores across Oregon and one distribution center in Hermiston. More than 10,000 people are employed by the company in the state. The average hourly salary for full-time employees is $13.49, according to the retail chain's corporate website.

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