BUSINESS AND EDUCATION
Diverse industries and well-educated workers provide strength
Washington's economic architecture is strong on many fronts.
The state earned a fourth-place showing on a major innovation index produced by the Kauffman Foundation. The study found that the high concentration of knowledge workers, a tight integration with the global supply web and the sheer volume of entrepreneurial activity mean prosperity for years to come. The report ranked Washington:
• 1st for a technologically advanced manufacturing sector
• 2nd for the creation and expiration of new business start-ups
• 3rd for the number of patents issued
• 5th for immigration of knowledge workers
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
• Costco* Wholesale
• drugstore.com Online Pharmacy
• Expedia Online Travel
• Fred Hutchinson Medical Research Center Cancer Research
• Microsoft* - Software Development
• Nintendo Gaming Software
• Nordstrom* General Retail
• Paccar Trucking
• REI Outdoor Recreation Retail
• SAFECO Insurance
• Starbucks* Beverages
• T-Mobile Telecommunications
• Trendwest/Worldmark Travel
• Weyerhaeuser Forest Products
• Zillow Online Real Estate Information
• Zymogenetics - Biotechnology
* Listed in Fortunes 20 Most Admired Companies, 2009
The state's public higher education system now encompasses two major research institutions, four comprehensive institutions and 34 community and technical colleges. In addition, there are five branch campuses, 10 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.
Recognized globally for academic excellence, Seattle possesses one of the finest public and private college systems in America. Among Washington's current educational assets:
• More than 426,000 college students statewide
To request information regarding your business category in the Seattle market, contact our strategic research department by e-mail to research@seattletimes.com.
Sources: Kauffman Foundation, 2007; Key Facts About Higher Education in Washington, 2009-2010, Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board
|
