Professional & Technical Services

With 132 professional and technical services jobs and 36% growth over five years, this sector punches above its weight for a county of 15,600 people. Projected growth of nearly 20% signals continued momentum, driven largely by remote workers relocating from urban centers during and after the pandemic. Average earnings of $57,781 per job make this one of the higher-paying sectors available locally — though still roughly $11,000 below the district-wide median of $69,000+, reflecting the concentration of larger firms and federal contracts in Redding and Shasta County.

The strategic play here is retention and infrastructure. The professionals who moved to the area for quality of life will leave if broadband stays unreliable or if there's nowhere to work outside their homes. Co-working space in Weaverville and reliable high-speed internet aren't amenities — they're economic infrastructure for a sector that's growing without requiring recruitment. Addressing the earnings gap means supporting local firm formation, not just attracting remote employees of Bay Area companies.

This is one of the few sectors where the county's rural character is a competitive advantage rather than a barrier. The window to lock in these gains is now, before remote-work enthusiasm cools or competing rural communities catch up.