Washington: Exports, Jobs, and Foreign Investment

Exports Support Jobs for Washington's Workers

Export-supported jobs linked to manufacturing account for an estimated 9.0 percent of Washington's total private-sector employment, tied for the highest share among the 50 states. Nearly than two-fifths (39.1 percent, the highest share) of all manufacturing workers in Washington depend on exports for their jobs. (2005 data are the latest available.)

Note: Export-related employment data shown do not include manufacturing and non-manufacturing jobs involved in the export of non-manufactured goods, such as farm products, minerals, and services sold to foreign buyers. Indirect exports exclude imported items. The complete 2005 export-related employment series is available on our Export Related Jobs pages. Additional information on methodology used in the export-related employment series can be found in the U.S. Census Bureau's publication Exports from Manufacturing Establishments: 2003.

Source: State Export-Related Employment Project, International Trade Administration and Bureau of the Census.

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Exports Sustain Thousands of Washington Businesses

A total of 7,444 companies exported from Washington locations in 2006. Ninety percent (6,664) of exporting companies in 2006 were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with fewer than 500 employees.

SMEs generated almost one-sixth (16 percent) of Washington's total exports of merchandise in 2006.

Source: International Trade Administration and Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade Division: Exporter Database.

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Foreign Investment Creates Jobs in Washington

In 2005, foreign-controlled companies employed 85,900 workers in Washington. Major sources of Washington's jobs in 2005 included Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France.

Almost one-fourth of these jobs (24 percent, or 20,900 workers) were in the manufacturing sector in 2005. Foreign-controlled companies accounted for 7.6 percent of total manufacturing employment in Washington in 2005.

Foreign investment in Washington was responsible for 3.6 percent of the state’s total private-industry employment in 2005.

Note: All figures exclude employment in banks affiliated with foreign companies.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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Washington Depends on World Markets

Washington's export shipments of merchandise in 2007 totaled $66.3 billion. Washington ranked fourth among the 50 states in terms of 2007 exports. Among the 50 states, Washington showed the third highest dollar growth in exports between 2003 and 2007, with exports growing $32.1 billion.

Washington exported to 208 foreign destinations in 2007. The state's largest market that year was China, which received exports of $9.6 billion. Other top markets included Japan ($7.7 billion), NAFTA member Canada ($7.6 billion), India ($5.8 billion), and South Korea ($3.0 billion). Washington exported at least $1 billion in goods to twelve other markets.

The transportation equipment sector dominates the state's export profile and accounted for 64 percent ($42.7 billion) of Washington's total merchandise exports in 2007. Other top manufactured exports that year were computers and electronic products ($3.3 billion), machinery manufactures ($2.1 billion), and processed foods ($2.1 billion).

Source: Origin of Movement State Export Series, Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade Division.

Caution: The Origin of Movement series allocates exports to states based on transportation origin, i.e., the state from which goods began their journey to the port (or other point) of exit from the United States. The transportation origin of exports is not always the same as the location where the goods were produced. Consequently, conclusions about "export production" in a state should not be made solely on the basis of the Origin of Movement state export figures.

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Washington's Metropolitan Exports

In 2006, the metropolitan area of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue exported $46.3 billion in merchandise, 87 percent of Washington's total merchandise exports. Other major metropolitan areas in Washington that exported in 2006 included Bellingham ($886 million), Spokane ($691 million), Kennewick-Richland-Pasco ($611 million), Longview ($551 million), and Yakima ($478 million). A major metropolitan area exporter that included some counties of Washington was Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton (including some counties in Oregon as well) which exported $14.6 billion in merchandise in 2006.

Source: Metropolitan Export Series, Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade Division.

Caution: The Origin of Movement zip-based series allocates exports to metropolitan areas based on transportation origin, i.e., the metropolitan area from which goods began their journey to the port (or other point) of exit from the United States. The transportation origin of exports is not always the same as the location where the goods were produced. Consequently, conclusions about "export production" in a metropolitan area should not be made solely on the basis of the Origin of Movement zip-based export figures.

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