Intel Oregon continues dramatic layoffs in a region already suffering high unemployment
In what continues to be multiple waves of layoffs, Intel in Oregon has laid off at least 5,400 jobs since August and estimates are there are now less than 18,000 Oregon Intel employees. That’s a loss of just at 25% of Intel Oregon employees (based on the estimates) in 6 months.

This comes when Oregon’s job situation is lagging nationally and facing steep headwinds. Because Intel is the state’s largest tech employer, and many other local tech firms have left or are also downsizing, it means a lot of these employees are predicted to leave Oregon and cause serious economic repercussions for the local area. This has already alarmed local leaders that are now expecting a quickly eroding tax base.
Even worse, Oregon itself is facing a continuingly downward employment trend. Oregon reported a net 4,300 job losses in June 2025, up more than double the 2,100 jobs lost in May. The only sector in Oregon that grew was 900 jobs in heath care fields.
This is even more pronounced in the Portland area which is now in a multi-year decline. The Portland metro area saw the biggest declines in the whole state with 7,500 jobs lost in May and employment is down about 14,000 since last year. Unemployment has also risen dramatically – it was 3.6% in May 2024 but is now 4.6% in May 2025 – a trend that is expected to get worse for the foreseeable future.

Articles:
- https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2025/07/intels-retreat-is-unlike-anything-its-done-before-in-oregon.html#:~:text=Intel%20has%20eliminated%20at%20least,come%20in%20the%20weeks%20ahead.
- https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/07/oregon-sheds-another-4300-jobs-unemployment-rate-creeps-up-again.html
- https://1190kex.iheart.com/featured/portland-local-news/content/2025-07-16-oregon-loses-4300-jobs/#:~:text=After%20averaging%20210%2C600%20jobs%20in,200%20jobs%20since%20June%202022.