SALEM, Ore. (Sep. 27, 2026) — Demand for mental health professionals in Oregon has grown faster than demand for all other occupations in the state, according to recent analysis by the Oregon Employment Department.
The analysis comes as Oregon observes National Recovery Month in September and amid continued efforts to address a behavioral health workforce shortage.
OED Employment Economist Luke Coury examined demand using published estimates of online job postings. While online job advertising across Oregon’s economy has fallen back to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, job postings for mental health professionals have remained elevated.
Coury found that online advertising for mental health occupations experienced a smaller decline during the pandemic before rising more sharply during the post-recession economic expansion.
A report from the Governor’s Behavioral Health Talent Council found that current employment levels for mental health professionals are not meeting demand in Oregon. The report said demand for behavioral health workers was increasing before accelerating during the pandemic.
Gov. Tina Kotek directed the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to consolidate efforts to address the behavioral health workforce shortage through a Behavioral Health Talent Assessment. The assessment helped inform the creation of the Behavioral Health Talent Council.
The council’s final report includes 74 recommendations focused on expanding the behavioral health workforce, streamlining licensing and credentialing and improving recruitment and retention.
The first legislation resulting from the council’s work, known as Cutting Red Tape for Behavioral Health Workers, was passed in 2026.
“The Behavioral Health Talent Council developed strategies to address the workforce shortage,” First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, chair of the council, said. “Supporting the workforce and strengthening pathways into the field helps Oregon to retain workers, attract new talent, and ensure more Oregonians can access care when they need it.”
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors had the highest number of online job postings among mental health occupations during the period analyzed by Coury. There were 7,190 postings between June 2025 and June 2026.
OED also projects continued demand for mental health professionals over the next decade. Nearly all mental health occupations are projected to grow faster than the 6.4% growth rate OED projects for all occupations through 2034.
Psychiatric technicians have the highest projected growth rate among the mental health occupations at 28.1%, followed by marriage and family therapists at 24.9% and substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors at 23.5%.
“For those interested in a career built around helping others, becoming a mental health professional could be a great option,” Coury said. “Demand is still high for those occupations and is projected to remain that way over the next decade.”
Oregon officials also highlighted people in recovery and people with lived experience of behavioral health conditions as an important part of the workforce.
The state says supporting people throughout their recovery journeys can help strengthen the behavioral health workforce while increasing the number of people able to provide care and support to Oregonians.
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