industry sector overviews
Aerospace
The undisputed global leader in aerospace, Washington’s aviation industry goes back more than a century. The state has more than 1,350 firms in its aerospace cluster, developing and building products and services for major manufacturers and airlines throughout the world, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier.
Clean Technology
Washington State is a major player in developing new, renewable and sustainable energy sources while protecting the environment. Businesses are engaged in an array of research and development projects utilizing wind, solar, tides, biofuels and biomass technologies that will reduce our carbon footprint or dependence on fossil fuels.
Life Sciences
Some of the most important advances in medicine and global health have come from Washington State, including revolutionary new treatments for cancer, kidney disease and heart attacks. Our critical mass of world-class research facilities, nimble life sciences companies and global health organizations is improving health around the world.
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Fourteen thousand companies and 313,000 tech-based workers are changing the way we communicate, entertain ourselves and interact with information. Legendary businesses such as Microsoft, Cray and Amazon are joined by a new generation of companies such as Google and Facebook to bring new ideas to market quickly and efficiently.
Advanced Manufacturing
Washington State is a leader in the research, development and production of cutting edge composites and advanced manufacturing. Our industry is diverse and sophisticated, backed by public-private partnerships that provide the training, know-how and expertise advanced manufacturing and materials companies require.
Maritime
With hundreds of miles of shoreline it shouldn’t be too surprising that Washington State is a powerhouse for the maritime industry, employing tens of thousands of tradesmen, shipwrights and marine engineers. Fully 80% of all super yachts produced in the United States are built right here in Washington and the state is second in the nation in seafood processing.
Agriculture and Food Processing
The state’s 39,500 farms grow, produce and ship 300 different crops, ranking second in the nation. Food and beverage production supports 130,000 jobs in Washington State, which is the leading producer of apples, sweet cherries, pears, raspberries and hops in the United States.
Military and Defense
Tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars flow into the state’s economy from the military and defense sector. Washington has six active duty military installations and is
6th in the nation in the number of active duty military, with 69,125 military personnel and another 90,246 dependents and 19,474 reservists.
The undisputed global leader in aerospace, Washington’s aviation industry goes back more than a century. The state has more than 1,350 firms in its aerospace cluster, developing and building products and services for major manufacturers and airlines throughout the world, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier.
Clean Technology
Washington State is a major player in developing new, renewable and sustainable energy sources while protecting the environment. Businesses are engaged in an array of research and development projects utilizing wind, solar, tides, biofuels and biomass technologies that will reduce our carbon footprint or dependence on fossil fuels.
Life Sciences
Some of the most important advances in medicine and global health have come from Washington State, including revolutionary new treatments for cancer, kidney disease and heart attacks. Our critical mass of world-class research facilities, nimble life sciences companies and global health organizations is improving health around the world.
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Fourteen thousand companies and 313,000 tech-based workers are changing the way we communicate, entertain ourselves and interact with information. Legendary businesses such as Microsoft, Cray and Amazon are joined by a new generation of companies such as Google and Facebook to bring new ideas to market quickly and efficiently.
Advanced Manufacturing
Washington State is a leader in the research, development and production of cutting edge composites and advanced manufacturing. Our industry is diverse and sophisticated, backed by public-private partnerships that provide the training, know-how and expertise advanced manufacturing and materials companies require.
Maritime
With hundreds of miles of shoreline it shouldn’t be too surprising that Washington State is a powerhouse for the maritime industry, employing tens of thousands of tradesmen, shipwrights and marine engineers. Fully 80% of all super yachts produced in the United States are built right here in Washington and the state is second in the nation in seafood processing.
Agriculture and Food Processing
The state’s 39,500 farms grow, produce and ship 300 different crops, ranking second in the nation. Food and beverage production supports 130,000 jobs in Washington State, which is the leading producer of apples, sweet cherries, pears, raspberries and hops in the United States.
Military and Defense
Tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars flow into the state’s economy from the military and defense sector. Washington has six active duty military installations and is
6th in the nation in the number of active duty military, with 69,125 military personnel and another 90,246 dependents and 19,474 reservists.