BUSINESS AND EDUCATION
Diverse industries and well-educated workers provide strength
Washington's economic architecture is strong on many fronts.
Seattle ranks #1 for high-tech employment growth among 51 largest US metro areas, based on long-and short-term job numbers – according to Forbes magazine. Built on a base of such tech powerhouses as Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing, Seattle has enjoyed the steadiest and most sustained tech growth over the past decade.
Seattle is the fourth most innovative city in America, according to a report from the research firm 2ThinkNow. The group looked at patent filings, cultural assets such as "music, sports, languages and includes practical measurement of sports stadiums, art galleries, museums, walkability, and bicycle friendly neighborhoods," as well as universities and R&D that promote human infrastructure. More than 4,000 patents originated in Seattle last year -- 6th most in the country. The study examined 331 cities worldwide. Seattle comes in 25th globally.
Seattle ranks #1 for overall technology performance according to Scientific American’s cities issue. In order to rate cities on their technology opportunities, access and geek friendliness, Wired magazine combined several factors, including stores that sell tech gadgets, availability of free wireless Internet access, technology jobs, highly ranked engineering schools, and the presence of an "active geek community."
The region accommodates every major industry, making its work force one of the most qualified and diverse in the country. Many of today's business leaders center their businesses in the Seattle region, including:
• Amazon.com* – E-commerce
• Alaska Airlines – Airlines
• Attachmate – Enterprise Software
• Boeing* – Aerospace
• Coinstar - Retail
• Costco* – Wholesale
• Cray - Supercomputers
• drugstore.com – Online Pharmacy
• Expedia – Online Travel
• F5 Networks - Technology
• Fred Hutchinson Medical Research Center – Cancer Research
• Microsoft* - Software Development
• Nintendo – Gaming Software
• Nordstrom* – General Retail
• Paccar – Trucking
• REI – Outdoor Recreation Retail
• SAFECO – Insurance
• Seattle Genetics - Biotechology
• SonSite - Biotechnology
• Starbucks* – Beverages
• T-Mobile – Telecommunications
• Trendwest/Worldmark – Travel
• Weyerhaeuser – Forest Products
• Zillow – Online Real Estate Information
• Zymogenetics - Biotechnology
* Listed in Fortune’s 50 Most Admired Companies, 2012
Recognized globally for academic excellence, Seattle possesses one of the finest public and private college systems in America.
The state's public higher education system now encompasses two major research institutions, four comprehensive institutions and 35 community and technical colleges. In addition, there are five branch campuses, 11 university centers and numerous teaching sites. These institutions serve a myriad of state needs in fields as diverse as agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, law, computer science and architecture.
• More than 438,400 students attend Washington’s colleges and universities
To request information regarding your business category in the Seattle market, contact our strategic research department by e-mail to research@seattletimes.com.
Sources: Forbes, November, 2011; 2thinkNow Innovation Agency, October, 2011; Scientific American, August 19, 2011; Key Facts About Higher Education in Washington, 2012, Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board
|
