City of Hermiston: Greater Hermiston area adds 2,200 jobs 2012-22

City of Hermiston: Greater Hermiston area adds 2,200 jobs 2012-22

Published 10:00 pm Sunday, August 31, 2025

HERMISTON — The city of Hermiston in a press release Thursday, Aug. 28, announced Umatilla County has added 3,200 jobs since 2012, with 91% of those gains occurring in the Greater Hermiston area.

The figures come from the Oregon Employment Department and U.S. Census Bureau, according to the city, and reveal the region, which includes Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield and Echo, has been a driving force behind job creation in Umatilla and Morrow counties for during the span.

Hermiston alone between 2012 and 2022 added 2,200 jobs — roughly two out of every three new positions in Umatilla County. According to the city, the Greater Hermiston area generated nine out of every 10 new Umatilla County jobs and from 2019 to 2022 accounted for 114% of the county’s net job growth, which indicates other parts of Umatilla County experienced a net loss in jobs during that period.

“When combined with Morrow County data, Greater Hermiston accounts for 60% of all net job growth across both counties,” the city reported.

The start of major data center construction and operations in 2019 in western Umatilla County propelled the surge in job creation. Employment in the county’s information sector — historically limited to newspapers and radio — grew from 170 jobs in 2018 to 880 by June 2025. The figures represent permanent operational positions, according to the city, and do not include the significant number of temporary jobs that construction created.

Morrow County also posted strong gains, with U.S. Census data showing 1,489 jobs added in the Greater Boardman area (Boardman and Irrigon) and 2,930 jobs added in the Greater Hermiston area between 2012 and 2022. When looking at Umatilla and Morrow counties together, Greater Hermiston and Greater Boardman combined accounted for more than 90% of all job growth in the two-county area.

The city also reported while county-wide job numbers leveled off in the past year — largely due to national slowdowns in agriculture, food processing and hospitality — Greater Hermiston’s diversified private sector and ongoing technology investment continue to create stability.