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Outdoor Gear & Apparel

 

Outdoor Gear & Apparel

Home to Nike, adidas America, and Columbia Sportswear, Outdoor Gear & Apparel is one of the iconic industries of Oregon. The industry has blossomed from these large global brands, with new ideas, opportunities, and companies sprouting from the large pool of industry talent that has amassed in Oregon. Growing, mid-sized companies have benefited from the extensive design and logistics expertise found in the region. Oregon's proximity to the Pacific Rim lets these companies easily interact with counterparts in Asia, as well as exchange materials and finished goods.


The following are some data points related to Outdoor Gear and Apparel in Oregon.

25,509

Employment

$162,483

Average Wage

557

Establishments

Apparel & Footwear

Employing nearly 20,0000 workers statewide, this subsector includes textile mills, leather products, apparel manufacturing, merchant wholesalers, and corporate headquarters for leading global brands. Average wages for this industry are very high, over $200,000 annually. Outdoor Gear & Apparel was the fastest growing Target Industry Goup in Oregon over the past 10 years.

Outdoor Gear

The outdoor gear subsector employs close to 6,000 workers in cutlery, bicycle, and sporting goods manufacturing and wholesaling. With a sweeping coastline, snow-capped mountain ranges, rocky high deserts, and countless lakes, rivers, and streams, Oregon is a place where outdoor gear gets pushed to its limits. And companies want to do business in the places their gear can be used. From world-renowned kiteboarding and windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge to the slopes of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s outdoor-oriented culture attracts a workforce uniquely driven to create and grow this sector.