Intern Economic Research

The Position

Turn data into real-world impact!

At the Port of Portland, economic data isn’t just numbers - it drives international trade, supports regional economic development, and informs important public decisions. As an Economic Research Intern, you’ll gain hands-on experience working with real data, exploring trends, and contributing to projects that shape the region’s economic future.

To be considered for this intern position you must be a current student enrolled in an Oregon/Washington school for the duration of employment. Spring 2026 graduates will not be eligible for this internship unless documentation of continued educational classes (graduate school documentation related to the field) can be provided at the time of application.

Duration: Expected sunset date on or around May 31, 2027, with full-time work during school breaks and part-time during the school year. Compensation is determined by school year and experience.

About Us

With our three airports (including PDX), three active marine terminals, and six business parks, the Port of Portland is a vital engine for the region’s economy. Across all areas of our work, we prioritize creating good jobs and opportunity for local businesses and improving quality of life for everyone who lives and works in our region.

Our Core Values

We demonstrate leadership by setting principled goals and taking on complex issues in partnership with our community. We celebrate inclusion by welcoming all voices and perspectives to enrich our culture, drive creativity, and be successful in our work. We deliver extraordinary service and achieve high standards in quality through a culture of continuous learning. And we focus on safety and eliminating harm through active prevention, evaluation, and action.

Essential Job Duties

• Build a data catalog of existing Port and regional economic indicators. Develop an understanding of economic data sources, update frequency, uses, and limitations.
• Conduct research in a Port business area (Industrial Development, Trade, Economic Development, Maritime, or Regional Economics) culminating in a white paper and internal presentation to Port staff.
• After training, support internal research requests related to grants, economic impact modeling, trade, and media requests.
• Monitor economic and trade trends to produce summarizes and highlights.
• Prepare charts, slides, or talking points for Port staff.
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Currently enrolled in an accredited Oregon/Washington college or university and seeking a degree in Economics, Social Sciences (Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, International Relations), Statistics, Math, or related fields.
• Student must also provide current unofficial transcript at time of application.
• Maintenance of a minimum 2.5 grade point average and continued enrollment in classes pertinent to the internship is required.
  
  
  

Demonstrated Skills & Knowledge:

• Demonstrate commitment to valuing differences among individuals and a passion for being inclusive.
• Promote safety as a core value and a regular practice in accomplishing work, focus on safety improvements, and comply with safety and health policies and procedures.
• Show the utmost respect for others and act as a team player.
• Basic economic or data knowledge.
• Comfort with quantitative reasoning and problem-solving.
• Ability to synthesize information into written formats.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  
  
  

Supplemental and Selection Information

Selection Process (tentative Schedule)

• A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources the week of April 27, 2026.
• A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials including any responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
• Our goal is to schedule panel interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be notified after interviews are complete, with a tentative start date in June 2026.
  
  
  

About Us

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have – our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them – to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone’s life better. And we’ll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region’s success. With YOUR help – together with our partners, customers, and community – we’ll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans’ preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran’s preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

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