An estimated three million people live in the Seattle metro area, and this figure is only going up. With an overall shift of 18.7 percent since 2010, the city was designated the fastest-growing in America for the decade in 2017 and the second-fastest in 2018.
Seattle has a great quality of life, and in 2019 it was ranked among the top 20 cities in America for things like security, wealth, access to healthcare, traffic, pollution, and more. In addition to Washington being named the Best State in the United States for 2019, Seattle was also ranked ninth on News and Report’s list of the Best Places to Live.
Seattle, Washington, is a growing city, as seen by the steady annual growth in the local populace, employment possibilities, and average wage. So what is it about this area that attracts both job searchers and professionals looking to enhance their careers?
Several defining factors have made Seattle and its local job market well-known, despite the fact that many attribute Seattle’s rise only to the success of regional tech businesses like Amazon and Microsoft.
Seattle’s Biggest Industries
An abundance of job opportunities and an above-average career outlook are available to those who live and work in the Seattle area because of the city’s expanding economy. The median annual income in this city is $63,120, or $12,500 more than the national average.
As of July 2019, the unemployment rate in the state was 4.6 percent, down from 10.4 percent in 2010. Seattle has a low unemployment rate of 3.9 percent, and the city’s job growth rate is predicted to remain at 2.4 percent for the rest of 2019.
Seattle’s present economic climate is defined by a few significant industries, including:
- Tech
Seattle’s economy continues to be dominated by the technology sector. Big-name companies like Microsoft, Expedia, and Zillow, together with digital powerhouse Amazon, have been luring a remarkable quantity of tech-based talent to the region, enabling an already expanding industry to continue growing rapidly. Seattle generated 33,000 new tech positions in total between 2016 and 2017, a 25.7 percent increase. As Seattle establishes itself as one of the top technology hubs in the nation, these numbers are anticipated to keep increasing.
- Manufacturing
Arguably the oldest and one of Seattle’s most prominent sectors is manufacturing. The manufacturing sector in Seattle, led by Boeing—”the world’s largest aircraft company”—has long been a mainstay of the regional economy. The top local companies in this sector include GE Healthcare, Honeywell Aerospace, and Philips. In the last 12 months, employment in this industry as a whole has grown by 5.6 percent.
- Business and Finance
Many other business jobs have been brought to Seattle by the tech giants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in the business and financial sector make up 8% of all employment in the city, followed by management jobs (5.6%), sales jobs (9.3%), and jobs providing office and administrative support.
- STEM and Healthcare
STEM careers, which include those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, are also well-liked in Seattle. CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, reports that from 2014 to 2018, this city’s employment in this sector rose by 8.1 percent. Since then, this has generated an astounding 230,000 new jobs locally in the STEM sector, propelling Seattle to the eighth-largest STEM cluster in the nation.
The healthcare industry in Seattle employed 55,880 people as of 2018, and this number has risen due to the city’s expanding population and regional technological advancements.
Why Tap Marketing Recruiters in Seattle
In Seattle, occupations focusing on technology and marketing are in high demand. In these two industries, one in every six residents of Seattle works.
For example, marketing managers are in high demand, which is reflected in their compensation.
The need for technical writers, software developers, and cybersecurity experts has also skyrocketed in Seattle during the past few years. By 2026, a 48% increase in the number of data science positions is predicted.
Boeing, Tableau, the University of Washington, and King County are among the top employers.
The job hunt can be challenging, given the abundance of opportunities. But navigating with an expert tech or marketing recruiter by your side won’t be so hard.
These experts can be your lifeline towards vacancies and connections you’d otherwise not know. Recruiters can also work with you, maximize your skill set, and find the perfect opportunities that would seemingly look tailored for you.
To Wrap It Up
Moving to Emerald City is wise if you’re starting your career or looking for greener pastures. Opportunities abound in the area, and with the help of headhunters or marketing recruiters, Seattle can be anything and everything you want it to be.
