SAN FRANCISCO, July 22 -- The workforce in the U.S. state of Oregon is growing older, with the share of older workers increasing to 24 percent by 2022, according to an OregonLive report on Monday.

In 1990, one out of 10 job holders in Oregon was at least 55 years old, and by now, nearly 1 in 4 is over 55, according to a July workforce report from the Oregon Employment Department.

Agriculture, real estate and public administration are the oldest industries in the state, all with more than a quarter of their workers over 55, said Gail Krumenauer, the economist from the state employment department.

Oregon's hospitality and information industries have the smallest share of workers over 55, 17 percent and 19 percent, respectively, he added.

In 2023, the number of Oregonians not in the labor force due to retirement reached 786,000, an all-time high. Over the past decade, the number of Oregonians not in the labor force due to retirement grew by 160,000, or 26 percent, the workforce report said.

Oregon is also one of the oldest states in the nation, with the median resident about 17 months older than the median American.

The state's population has stagnated since the pandemic. Its natural increase in population turned negative in 2021 and 2022, with fewer births than deaths.

In 2021, for the first time in almost four decades, population estimates showed negative net migration and an overall decline in Oregon's population, the workforce report noted.

  - Xinhua