OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Job growth in Washington is expected to remain slow in the coming years, including in Whatcom County.
According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, the job market in northwest Washington is projected to grow by about 0.81% from 2024 to 2029.
The region includes Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island counties. Overall, it’s estimated to add around 8,500 jobs over that five-year period.
The occupations expected to see the most openings include food service, office and administrative support and construction.
When it comes to the fastest growing jobs, the biggest gains are projected among cutting and slicing machine workers, pile-driver operators, semiconductor processors and financial clerks.
The northwest region’s projected growth is slightly below the state’s, while the Benton-Franklin area is expected to see the highest through 2029.
“Employment projections build from historic data to tell us about what we can expect in the future,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for Employment Security, in a news release. “This year’s projections tell the story of continuing slow growth overall, with variation by location, industry and occupation.”
The top three occupations for projected growth rates across the state include nurse practitioners, occupational therapy assistants and medical and health service managers.
