Greater Seattle leaps ahead in employment and wage growth

Greater Seattle leaps ahead in employment and wage growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for Q3 2019 was released this week. Regional employment and wage growth continue to rank in the top seven for all large metros in the U.S. While the number of business establishments in the region also grew, Pierce County posted significantly larger gains…

Seattle developer navigates complicated housing market

Seattle developer navigates complicated housing market

Jaebadiah Gardner likes a challenge. As the founder and CEO of Gardner Global, Inc., a real estate development firm, he faces stiff competition in the Seattle housing market. He’s learned to navigate the bureaucratic streams of local regulation as well as leverage the relationships he’s built as he’s worked to develop both multi-family and market…

Regional Employment Remains Strong in 2019

Regional Employment Remains Strong in 2019

This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released new employment and unemployment estimates for December 2019 (seasonally adjusted). See below for greater Seattle highlights: Employment Nonfarm payroll employment in greater Seattle rose in December 2019 compared to a year earlier, increasing from 2.05 million in December 2018 to 2.13 million in December 2019….

Greater Seattle region’s economy ranked fastest growing

Greater Seattle region’s economy ranked fastest growing

The Greater Seattle region’s economy sizzled in 2018, growing faster than any other major U.S. metropolitan area. Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) released an analysis today showing that the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by more than $23 billion in 2018. “Innovation and talent drive growth,” said GSP CEO Brian P. McGowan. “We are overtaking…

Invest in trade relationships to navigate an uncertain economy

Invest in trade relationships to navigate an uncertain economy

Companies that depend on access to global markets today face very real and serious risks. Tariffs are reducing our trade flows and threatening over half the imports into the Seattle-Tacoma gateway. More than 40% of jobs throughout Washington state are tied to international trade, and trade with China contributes to nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion…

Regional and state export data show mixed results

Regional and state export data show mixed results

State-level export data is out for October, which highlights a 17.5% increase in Washington state exports from September – October 2019. That said, October numbers are significantly below export values for the same time last year. When looking at the MSA-level, Greater Seattle exports totaled over $9.5 billion in Q2 2019, a 21% decrease from…

Region shows impressive employment and wage growth

Region shows impressive employment and wage growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Q2 figures were released this week. Regional employment and wage growth were impressive, though not always equally distributed among the three counties. While the number of establishments in the region also grew, Pierce and Snohomish counties posted larger gains than King County in…

New partnerships formed during mission to China

New partnerships formed during mission to China

A partnership with three Chinese companies formalized in Shanghai earlier this month aims to raise $20 million to support the greater Seattle region’s innovation and startup ecosystem. Onelin Capital, One Piece Work and Up Honest Capital signed an agreement to establish the fund to support the expansion and soft landing of Chinese technology innovation companies…

Growth in AI raises many questions

Growth in AI raises many questions

This month, GSP attended the Seattle Times’ interactive symposium on artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of work featuring University of Washington (UW) public-policy lecturer Akthar Badshah, co-executive director of United for Respect Andrea Dehlendorf, and UW technology and law professor Ryan Calo. Seattle Times business reporter Melissa Hellmann moderated a lively discussion on artificial…

Agritourism in greater Seattle

Agritourism in greater Seattle

Agriculture ranks as the second leading export sector in Washington state after civilian aircraft and ahead of computers and electronics. Washington farmers produce more than 300 commodities and topped $10.6 billion agriculture production in 2016 alone. Among many high-value crops produced in the state are apples, cherries, hops and potatoes. In Snohomish County, Washington, the…