Washington Manufacturing
Manufacturing in the state of Washington is an international success story
in growth and innovation. From commercial airplanes and heavy-lift cranes
to hydraulic jacks, semiconductors and doors, Washington’s manufacturers
are recognized around the globe as leading industry innovators.
Yet, at the same time, thousands of manufacturing jobs continue to go un-
filled. A lack of skilled workers, able to meet the demands of large and
small manufacturers statewide, continues to plague the industry. Workforce
training must remain a priority, as should efforts to educate future employ-
ees about the benefits of this powerful economic engine for the state’s
economy. Consider that Washington state manufacturers:
• Produce an annual output of $46.5 billion (2012)
• Export $67.3 billion in goods annually (2013)
• Offer average annual compensation of $82,902 (2013)
• Employ 286,300 Washingtonians (2013)
ANNUAL OUTPUT
OF
EXPORT
46.5 billion $ 67.3 billion
$
IN GOODS ANNUALLY
ANNUAL OUTPUT
OF
EMPLOY
EXPORT
46.5 billion $ 67.3 billion 286,300
$
IN GOODS ANNUALLY
WASHINGTONIANS
82,902
$
AVERAGE ANNUAL
COMPENSATION
EMPLOY
286,300
WASHINGTONIANS
82,902
$
AVERAGE ANNUAL
COMPENSATION
Key Findings
Spring and Summer 2014 the AWB Institute held manufacturing listening
sessions in Moses Lake, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Everett, Mount
Vernon, and Olympia. The goal: to hear first-hand from Washington manu-
facturers about the economic, regulatory and workforce challenges faced
by the industry. Key findings from these sessions include:
• A lack of predictability and reliability in the state’s regulatory environment
stymies manufacturing growth.
• Tax incentives play a vital role in the growth of the manufacturing industry
and must be protected.
• The minimum wage issue is a prominent decision factor when expanding
manufacturing facilities.
• The workforce pipeline is not growing at a pace needed to meet
industry demand.
A lack of predictability and reliability in the state’s
regulatory environment stymies manufacturing growth
Washington state businesses are regulated by various local, state and
federal agencies. While regulations and oversight are necessary, Wash-
ington state manufacturers are hesitant to expand their businesses be-
cause of an unpredictable and unreliable regulatory environment. Over-
regulation from all levels of government increases costs for expansion
and job growth projects.