Computer software
When Tektronix launched greater Portland’s tech sector 60 years ago, it spawned a tradition of innovation in hardware and software. Intel arrived in the ’80s.
A feisty and vibrant software cluster has grown up around these giants, true to the region’s independent streak. The cluster defies categorization, but if it had one hallmark it would be open source.
Greater Portland is home to Linus Torvalds, father of the Linux Operating System, and other emerging software technologies including Drupal and Ruby on Rails have a strong foothold. Up and coming firms include collaboration wizards Jive Software and wiki experts About Us. Security password firm Vidoop just moved its team across the country to make a new home here.
The Software Association of Oregon sponsors the annual Innotech conference, and gassroots organizations such as The Legion of Tech and Portland Open Source Software Entrepreneurs (POSSE) are integral to the scene.
Greater Portland is a lure for talent, offering a great lifestyle without the cost or congestion of Seattle or the Bay Area. The region’s freelance community includes 2,900 software consultants – significantly higher than the national per capita average (136, compared to 94). Blogging and twittering are routine around here.
The Milken Institute ranks the region’s high-tech GDP 81% higher than the national average.
Talent cluster
20% larger than national average
Growth
Projecting 28% in software and 25% in IT services by 2016
Firms
856 in 2006
Major employers
Mentor Graphics, IBM, Saber Corporation, Sage, WebTrends
Workforce
13,420 software and 12,420 IT service workers
Average salary
$88,875
Outlook
The region attracts a steady flow of firms looking to tap into a rich pool of software workers, many of whom just won’t live anywhere else.
