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Booming Seattle Job Market Driven by Tech and Aerospace, but Housing Costs Strain Affordability
Seattle’s job market remains one of the most robust in the nation, shaped by a thriving tech sector, strong professional services, and sustained economic momentum. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Seattle metropolitan area boasted a population of over 4.1 million in 2024, making it the 15th largest in the US. The region posted a gross domestic product of nearly $567 billion in 2023, with a per capita GDP of $128,316, ranking third nationally for large metros. The Bureau of Economic Analysis notes that in early 2024, Seattle’s average weekly wage rose to $2,188, well above the national average.
Professional and business services lead Seattle’s employment landscape, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities, then education and health services, and government roles. In October 2024, the unemployment rate hovered at 4.4 percent according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics figures relayed by Wikipedia, just slightly up from 4.2 percent the previous year. The region’s nonfarm job count reached 2.13 million, while the state’s overall employment level is expected to grow marginally in 2025, with the unemployment rate projected by AOL News to inch up to 4.5 percent this year and 4.9 percent by 2027.
Tech remains the dominant sector, with RCLCO Real Estate Consulting’s 2025 STEM Job Growth Index ranking Seattle among the country's leading cities for growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs. Amazon and Microsoft employ tens of thousands locally, shaping the broader ecosystem and drawing in satellite offices for Google, Meta, and others. Aerospace, led by Boeing, also plays a critical role with manufacturing facilities in Everett and Renton and substantial supply-chain employment. Other significant employers include Costco in retail, PacMed and Veterans Health Administration for healthcare, T-Mobile in telecommunications, and a cluster of emerging space technology firms like Blue Origin.
Recent trends show a moderation in tech hiring, with layoffs at Microsoft and other tech giants, but this has not led to a dramatic employment decline as other sectors absorb some of those workers. Hybrid and remote work patterns are now established post-pandemic, with Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent reporting that a quarter of new jobs in Seattle offer at least partial remote flexibility as of Q3 2025. Rising demand for skilled workers is seen in finance, professional services, and healthcare, while consumer hardware manufacturing faces headwinds as reported by GeekWire.
Commuting continues to be influenced by shifting urban-suburban patterns and evolving work habits. According to Wikipedia, the Puget Sound Regional Council coordinates planning and transit efforts to address population growth and infrastructure needs, supported by long-term investments from city and county governments. Seattle’s minimum wage has climbed to $20.76 in 2025, among the nation’s highest, supporting wage growth but straining affordability in housing and services.
The housing crisis, characterized by high prices and a significant homeless population, remains a limiting factor for labor market expansion. Wikipedia notes that median single-family home prices rose to $722,000 in 2023, and King County needs more than 300,000 additional units by 2044 to meet demand. Seasonal hiring increases are notable in tourism and maritime sectors during the peak summer cruise and fishing seasons.
Gaps remain in real-time federal data due to recent data collection delays and government shutdown impacts, as flagged by KOMO News and NPR reports. Nonetheless, available private data and city-level reporting show Seattle’s job market evolving towards more resilience and diversity, although challenges in retail recovery downtown and pressure from automation and AI reshaping some roles must be watched.
Key findings are the ongoing dominance of tech and aerospace, rising but still mo
Published on 14 hours ago