Published January 2005

‘Blueprint’ for future
New report details county’s
‘engines of economic activity’ for years to come

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

How Snohomish County’s economy will shape up in 2005 is anyone’s guess, and a lot of people are guessing.

Among those who are actually trying to do some of the shaping, however, is the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council, which has produced an insightful assessment of the local economy and how it must develop work-force training programs to maintain the kind of healthy and growing local economy that can only be sustained by having a job force of qualified workers.

Encompassed within the WDC’s extensive 2004 research report, “Snohomish County 2010: A Blueprint for Education, Workforce and Economic Development,” the outlook study represents key industry sectors, including biotech, business services, construction, education, manufacturing, medical and tourism.

Partners in the study with the WDC included the Snohomish County Economic Development Council; Edmonds, Everett and Cascadia community colleges; the University of Washington-Bothell, Central and Western Washington universities; Snohomish County’s K-12 school districts; and the Snohomish County government.

Here’s how the report describes each of the “engines of economic activity” and their role in the future development of the county:

Manufacturing — Historically, Snohomish County has depended upon the manufacturing sector — primarily the Boeing Co. in recent years — to provide the largest supply of “living wage” jobs. The county actually has an “unusually high share” of its total jobs in that sector, as much as 25 percent in 2001, compared to 7 percent in King County and 6 percent nationally. And, 64 percent of those Snohomish County manufacturing jobs are in the manufacturing of jet airliners at the Boeing Co.’s Everett assembly plant for the 747, 767, 777 and 7E7.

This year, hiring is expected to continue its recovery in the aerospace industry but also in the other five sectors of manufacturing in the county, with job growth of 3.7 percent expected by 2010 in ship and boat building; up 2.2 percent in industrial machinery and equipment; up 1.6 percent in the production of electronic devices and other electronic products; up 1.6 percent in instruments and related sectors; and up 1.3 percent in durable goods. By 2010, projected employment figures show jobs in the aircraft and parts sector reaching 25,500 jobs in the county and durable goods reaching 44,500 jobs.

Tourism and related hospitality services — Jobs in this industry are valued at $10.9 billion across Washington state, with Snohomish County ranked as the third-largest market. That market grew by $286 million between 1991 and 2001, with total tourism industry jobs in the county tallied at more than 10,000 in 2001.

The conference and convention market is expected to expand in revenues and jobs this year as the highly successful Everett Events Center continues to grow, Paine Field’s new Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour facility opens for business this year and the Lynnwood Convention Center comes online.

Biotech and biomedical devices — According to the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association, this sector is “thriving and growing, including Snohomish County’s cluster of mature medical device firms and start-up biotech companies, all a part of one of the top 10 biotechnology systems in the nation.

Snohomish County is home to 35 of the state’s 190 biotech and medical device firms, employing approximately 5,000 workers in the county in 2002. Ninety-three percent of the industry’s Snohomish County employment is located in Bothell, primarily in the Canyon Park business center there.

Business services — Generally separated into three categories — personnel supply services, computer and data processing services and other business services — Snohomish County jobs in that sector numbered 7,700 in 2000 and are expected to increase to 10,600 by 2010. The most significant increase in jobs is expected to be in personnel supply services, with an increase of 600 to 1,500 jobs between 2000 and 2010.

Education — Industry need for a highly skilled work force, plus a growing population base in Snohomish County, will continue this year to put pressure on the K-20 school system.. The challenge here, according to the WDC report, is to increase the education system’s capacity for handling more students, but meeting that challenge is going to depend primarily on “decisions by state and federal legislators.”

A successful economic future for the county depends, based on the study’s findings, on “a K-20 education system which effectively supports a competitive economy, attracts and grows employment opportunities and stays current with new technologies and research.”

Construction trades — This sector, which includes general building, heavy construction and special trades, is expected to be a major contributor to a growing economy in the county as construction activity increases this year.

Between 2001 and 2002, the county experienced a loss of 1,700 jobs in the construction trades, second only to losses in manufacturing during that period. With a brighter economy, the study notes, Snohomish County should see significant increases in projects and employment.

The three categories — primarily involving plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters and others — account for 63 percent of the jobs in the county’s construction industry, with heavy construction, such as road and highway work, accounting for 15 percent of the work force. Between 2002 and 2010, the study predicts that the county will see most of the growth in this sector in the special trades industry.

Only moderate growth in the construction sector is due between 2000 and 2010 because fewer commercial projects are being launched and there has been a lower number of residential housing starts. At the same time, an aging work force in this industry is putting pressure on the need for more apprenticeship programs and training.

Health services — The Puget Sound region is “a major center for health-care services for the Pacific Northwest,” the report notes, with such facilities as Harborview Medical Center, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington Health Sciences.

In Snohomish County, both Providence Everett Medical Center and The Everett Clinic are health services leaders in both technology and employment. In Snohomish County, according to the Washington state Employment Security Department, employment in the health services industry is expected to grow between 2 and 2.2 percent between 2000 and 2010.

Much of the county’s future employment growth will be spurred by the increase in the county’s population base, which is expected to add another 100,000 people by 2012. But projected employment figures could be dampened by a shortage of workers, due to an aging, retiring work force, and by how successful the state and local education system becomes in graduating and preparing people for tomorrow’s job roles.

Related: Skilled work force crucial for growth
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