what ’ s working a strong pillar
While it ’ s rare for manufacturers to receive congratulatory letters for their work , the importance of manufacturing to the state ’ s economy certainly deserves attention .
There are more than 8,000 manufacturing businesses in Washington that together employ 265,000 people , or about 8 % of the workforce .
These are good-paying jobs , with an average compensation of $ 95,777 a year — well above the state average .
The state Legislature has set a goal of doubling the state ’ s manufacturing sector over the coming decade .
That will take concerted effort in many areas , from regulation to innovation , but especially a focus on bringing the next generation into the vibrant modern manufacturing sector .
“ He ’ s a rock star for us .”
— Mike Reutimann , co-owner of Island Machine in Everett , about a 16-year-old high school junior they hired , one of several teenagers they ’ ve successfully brought onto the shop floor .
2022 awb manufacturing tour stops training for the future
Education and workforce development were themes of this year ’ s Manufacturing Week tour , AWB ’ s sixth annual cross-state trek in support of our state ’ s makers and innovators .
“ If we ’ re going to double manufacturing in Washington , we must invest in our young people to ensure we have a trained and educated workforce to fill the new positions . We must protect Washington ’ s affordable , reliable and renewable energy — which has been one of the state ’ s core competitive advantages . We need sensible regulatory policies that enable manufacturers to grow . And we need tax policy that allows us to compete in a global marketplace . The future of manufacturing in Washington is bright if we make smart policy choices now .”
— AWB President Kris Johnson
• Chinook Enterprises , Mount Vernon
• Goodwinds Composites , Mount Vernon
• Island Machine , Inc ., Everett
• Coriander Designs , Woodinville
• Naked Prosthetics , Olympia
• Bates Technical College , Tacoma
• Boeing Final Assembly and Wing Assembly , Renton
• Brinc Drones , Seattle
• Heylo , Seattle
• Analog Devices , Camas
• Skunk Brothers Spirits , Stevenson
• Backwoods Brewing Co ., Stevenson
• Mount Adams Fruit , Bingen
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland
• Columbia Label , Benton City
• Garfield-Palouse High School , Palouse
• Altek , Liberty Lake
• Inland Empire Paper , Millwood
• Hotstart Thermal Management , Spokane Valley
• CarbonQuest , Spokane Valley
• Pawprint Genetics / Neogen , Spokane
• Vanguard Academy , Moses Lake
• Big Bend Community College , Moses Lake
• Port of Moses Lake / Eviation , Moses Lake
• Genie / Terex , Moses Lake
• Kwik Lok , Yakima
• WestRock , Yakima winter 2023 23