Oregon's economy leans small and supersized

Nearly two-thirds of Oregon's private-sector workers are employed by either small businesses or very large companies, according to an analysis of state data by the Oregonian.

Why it matters: More than 110,000 small businesses collectively employ a huge share of the workforce, while just 321 of the state's biggest companies account for another sizable chunk.

• Plus: Those larger employers also tend to pay more — roughly one-third more than small firms.

The bottom line: While Oregon's economy is powered by thousands of small businesses, the relatively few very large employers offer the state's biggest paychecks.