Explore the breadth, depth and impact of tech & innovation across the state via our interactive, digital report that shows technology's impact on Washington's economy.
ISSUE OVERVIEW
Technology and innovation have become core to every sector’s growth and success. It is even more imperative then that the public understands this powerful and impactful role technology is having on their lives and communities, and sees themselves as part of the broader change - consumers, creators, and beneficiaries. The industries driving this technological revolution have the opportunity to not just create jobs and fuel the economy, but to show the broader social good that is resulting from this transformation. How is technology’s impact to agriculture improving my shopping experience? How are advances in energy technology saving me money on my utility bills? How are IT companies working to protect my identity when everything is in the cloud? These are the stories that need to be told; these are the connections that need to be made to ensure that Washington’s economic growth has a collective, far-reaching benefit.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Apples. Power. Healthcare. Technology is central to innovations in each of these sectors - changing the way business is done, improving efficiency and requiring fewer natural resources, while also causing shifts to the workforce. The report found that every region of the state has increasing dependence on workers with high-tech skills and at the same time faces a significant gap between employer demand and the supply of those with the desired degrees and training.
KEY FINDINGS
Nurses and computing occupations (software engineer, programmer, developer, etc.) dominate STEM jobs in every region
STEM jobs represent 44% of healthcare jobs, more than 50% of jobs in the Information and Communications Technology sector, and nearly 20% of all government jobs
26% of Washington’s current STEM jobs could be filled by someone who has received a STEM degree or certificate from a Washington institution in the past 10 years
Additional analysis, conducted by the Tech Alliance, of state job forecasts and federal IPEDS data shows that if the state’s institutions of higher education continue to graduate students at the same rate with the same percent earning STEM degrees (~22%), the state will educate about 420,000 STEM graduates (2005-2025) to fill more than 1.5 million STEM job openings (2015-2025) - meeting only 27% of the total demand with in-state education.
Click the map to explore by geography and see both the penetration of tech-related jobs and the production of degrees in those areas. Or click on the industry-specific icons to delve into the life-cycle stories of where and how technology is changing the apple, power, and healthcare sectors.
The picture that emerges is one of a diversified economy dependent on the development of new technologies, the adaptation and application of those technologies, and the required shifts in the workforce (new degrees, retraining, etc.). The strength of this economy depends on our collective commitment to supporting those elements that make this growth possible - education, the entrepreneurial & research climate, and distribution and access to opportunities. This is where the Tech Alliance is focused.
Visit the report. Explore Washington's regions. Learn about how our state's unique communities and businesses are using technology to drive innovation. Check out regional summaries at the links below.
A sincere thank you to our partners, Community Attributes, who helped take this report from idea to reality.