There are also bright spots .
Washington ranks top in the nation for the share of high-tech in the workforce ( Table 19 ) and R & D spending is at or near the top ( Tables 31-32 ). Per-capita income is rising at the second-highest rate in the nation ( Table 6 ), and the percentage of Washington residents in their prime working years is also second highest
( Table 2 ). And the numbers show Washington remains a trade-driven state with the third-highest rate of exports per capita ( Table 8 ) and a growing gross domestic product ( 8.7 %), the second-biggest increase in the nation ( Table 7 ).
We hope readers find this data useful , whether you ’ re planning the future of your business or helping chart public policy to make our state — and its competitiveness — the best it can be .