Jobs and the Economy

Port of Vancouver USA plays a key role in our local and regional economy. The port makes targeted investments in our facilities and leverages these improvements to attract jobs and economic development opportunities. Port facilities are leased to customers and tenants to create jobs for our citizens, spur investment in the community, contribute to state and local taxes, and provide our region with access to the global marketplace.

The Port of Vancouver USA commissions studies every four to five years to measure our economic impact in Southwest Washington.  The most recent analysis was completed in 2023 and highlights the port’s economic value to the region, including:   

• 19,970 total jobs associated with port activities (including direct, indirect, induced and influenced jobs).
• $2.9 billion in economic benefit to the region each year.  This is a result of cargo handled at the port’s marine terminals and revenue generated by our industrial tenants. 
• 3,849 jobs directly generated by port marine and industrial activities, an increase.
• $87.6 million generated in state and local taxes, to support public services such as schools, police and fire protection.  

Port Spending

Every four years the Port of Vancouver USA completes an economic study to determine the overall impact port tenants and activities have on the community. The last study was completed in 2023 (using 2022 data). In interim years the port’s direct expenditures are measured on the local, state, regional and national levels.

This data will help determine how much is spent close to home, but also how much the port benefits the region. In 2022 the port spent over $69 million on goods and services to operate the port. The chart below indicates that over 75 percent of the dollars the port paid for goods and services in 2023 was spent locally in Vancouver and Clark County, the Portland Metro Area and Washington State. An additional 25 percent was spent regionally and nationally. Ports are state-chartered to be economic engines for their communities and can also be important contributors regionally.