Study: Washington’s aerospace employment is holding steady

Washington’s aerospace industry continues to bring in more money to the state while its employment holds steady, according to a state-commissioned study released Thursday.

In 2015, the industry posted $69.9 billion in revenues, a slight increase over the prior year and more than twice what it recorded a decade earlier when adjusted for inflation, according to the study.

A Seattle-based economic consulting firm, Community Attributes, Inc., did the study for Washington Aerospace Partners, a state-backed industry advocacy group.

The number of people working directly in aerospace has held relatively stable in recent years. In 2015, the industry employed 93,800, an increase of 400 over the prior year, but less than the 2012 and 2013. However, the number of aerospace-related jobs has risen from 38,300 in 2012 to 42,300 last year.

The industry’s economic impact in 2015 was $94.7 billion in revenues and 252,800 jobs. That is a 9.4 percent increase in revenues and nearly 20 percent increase in jobs from the prior year.

The steady job numbers come even as the state’s biggest aerospace company, Boeing, trims its Washington workforce. In August, the company had 75,269 workers here, nearly 3,000 fewer than at the beginning of the year and the lowest its been since March 2011. Still, nearly half of the company’s workforce is in Washington.

It paid an estimated $9.4 billion in wages in Washington in 2015. The industry paid an estimated $13 billion in wages for people working directly in aerospace, according to the study.

Aerospace employees earned an average income of $107,000, compared to an average wage of $54,000 for all workers in the state.

In Snohomish County, 43,860 people worked directly in aerospace, who earned $4.5 billion in wages. The industry supported another 48,590 jobs in the county. In King County, the industry directly employed 44,640 people who earned about $5 billion.

Aerospace companies earned $32 billion in Snohomish County and $32.6 billion in King County in 2015.

According to the consulting firm Deloitte, about 10 percent of the country’s aerospace workforce is based in Washington.

Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.

Talk to us

More in Herald Business Journal

A man walks by Pfizer headquarters, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in New York. Pfizer will spend about $43 billion to buy Seagen and broaden its reach into cancer treatments, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan, File)
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to acquire Bothell-based Seagen

Pfizer announced Monday it plans to acquire Seagen in an all-cash deal for $43 billion.

Lacie Marsh-Carroll stirs wax before pouring candles in her garage at her home on March 17, 2018 in Lake Stevens. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)
Women business owners in Snohomish, Island counties make their mark

In honor of Women’s History Month, we spotlight three local business owners.

x
Edmonds International Women’s Day takes place Saturday

The Edmonds gathering celebrates women and diversity with this year’s theme, “EmbraceEquity.”

Owner and CEO Lacie Carroll holds a “Warr;or” candle at the Malicious Women Candle Co workspace in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. The business is women run and owned. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Malicious Women Co: She turned Crock-Pot candles into a sassy venture

Lacie Marsh-Carroll is rekindling her Snohomish candle company with new designs and products.

Kelly Matthews, 36, left, Tonka, 6, center, and Nichole Matthews, 36, pose for a photo in their home in Lynnwood, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.  The twin sisters work as freelance comic book artists and illustrators. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Drawing interest: Twin sisters never gave up on making their mark

Lynnwood sisters, Kelly and Nichole Matthews, got their big break a decade ago and now draw comics full time.

Willow Mietus, 50, poses for a photo at her home in Coupeville, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Mietus bought a former Frito-Lay truck to sell her dyed yarn out of. She calls it "The Wool Wagon." (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Wool Wagon to hit the streets of Whidbey Island

A self-described “professional yarn temptress” from Coupeville is setting up shop in a modified truck.

IonQ will open a new quantum computing manufacturing and research center at 3755 Monte Villa Parkway in Bothell. (Photo courtesy of IonQ)
Quantum computing firm IonQ to open Bothell R&D center

IonQ says quantum computing systems are key to addressing climate change, energy and transportation.

Nathanael Engen, founder of Black Forest Mushrooms, sits in the lobby of Think Tank Cowork with his 9-year-old dog, Bruce Wayne, on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Growing green mushrooms in downtown Everett

The founder of Black Forest Mushrooms plans to grow gourmet mushrooms locally, reducing their carbon footprint.

Barb Lamoureux, 78, poses for a photo at her office at 1904 Wetmore Ave in Everett, Washington on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Lamoureux, who founded Lamoureux Real Estate in 2004, is retiring after 33 years. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Barb Lamoureux, ‘North Everett’s Real Estate Agent’ retires

A longtime supporter of Housing Hope, Lamoureux helped launch the Windermere Foundation Golf Tournament.

Bothell
AGC Biologics in Bothell to produce new diabetes treatment

The contract drug manufacturer paired with drug developer Provention Bio to bring the new therapy to market.

The Walmart Store on 11400 Highway 99 on March 21, 2023 in in Everett, Washington. The retail giant will close the store on April 21, 2023. (Janice Podsada / The Herald)
Walmart announces Everett store on Highway 99 will close on April 21

The Arkansas-based retail giant said the 20-year-old Walmart location was “underperforming financially.”

Everett Memorial Stadium and Funko Field on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state

The proposed Senate capital budget contains critical seed money for the city-led project likely to get matched by the House.