Economic Impact of OHSU

Aerial of Portland's South Waterfront region.

At OHSU, we are driven by the belief that better health starts with innovations in the lab, in the classroom, at the bedside and in our communities. From supporting everyday wellness to solving the most difficult problems in human health, our 18,000 members work to serve the diverse needs of people in Oregon and beyond.

Through this work, OHSU has established itself as Portland's largest employer and as a statewide economic powerhouse. Our operations include multiple campuses, adult and children’s hospitals, and clinics across Oregon.

We also have state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, including the 320,000-square-foot Knight Cancer Research Building and the multi-university collaborative Robertson Life Sciences Building.

By the numbers

According to a report by Pinnacle Economics, issued in 2020 and based on 2019 data:

  • OHSU operations generate, directly and indirectly, $7.2 billion a year in total gross economic output in Oregon.
  • OHSU's total economic impact grew 196% percent from 2007 to 2019.
  • OHSU supports 42,639 jobs, both at OHSU and in the community.
  • Without OHSU, annual economic output in Oregon would fall by $3.8 billion. Students would seek education elsewhere, research grants would go to other academic health centers, and patients with the most complex conditions would go out of state or forgo advanced care.

Learn more in the Economic Impact of Oregon Health & Science University summary.  

Front page cover of 2020 OHSU Economic Report Summary Report.