Figure 2: Population of the Central Puget Sound Counties

Figure 3: PSRC Covered Employment Estimates 2007*

Figure 4: Percent Permitted New Housing Units Inside the UGA 1995-2006

Figure 1: Annual Population Change in the Central Puget Sound

Figures:  
• Figure 2: Population of the Central Puget Sound Counties  – 
• Figure 3: PSRC Covered Employment Estimates 2007*  – 
• Figure 4: Percent Permitted New Housing Units Inside the UGA 1995-2006  – 
• Figure 1: Annual Population Change in the Central Puget Sound

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Population growth, covered employment, and new housing starts inside and outside urban growth areas(UGAs)in Central Puget Sound.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

Population Growth

As of April 1, 2009 the regional population was estimated to have increased by 1.2 percent, or 41,800 persons, over the previous year, reaching a total of 3,674,800 persons. This represents another year of slowed growth in the central Puget Sound. The annual rate of growth has declined each year since peaking in 2005-06 at 1.8 percent, decreasing to 1.7 percent during 2006-07, 1.4 percent during 2007-08, and 1.2 percent during 2008-09.

The current economic downturn, through 2008, did not affect the region as severely as the nation on average. Nevertheless, limited job opportunities resulted in fewer job seekers being attracted to the region and lower overall net migration levels. Unemployment in the region caught up to and exceeded the national rate for a short period in early 2009. Regional unemployment has since continued on an upward trend, despite falling below the national rate during the 2nd quarter of 2009.

Covered Employment

Despite the recent slowing in the region’s economy, the period 2006-07 was one of pronounced employment growth in the Puget Sound region, with job totals surpassing pre-2001 recession employment levels across all counties.

For a look at regional employment trends in the region's designated urban centers, read "Employment in Regional Growth Centers, 2000-2008" under Additional Resources below.

Housing

A central goal of the Growth Management Act is for the state’s populous and fast-growing counties to direct new devel­opment to designated urban growth areas in order to curb sprawl and protect rural and resource lands. Since the mid-1990s, when urban growth areas were established in three of the region’s four counties (King, Pierce and Snohomish), 85 percent of all new housing units permitted for development in the region have been located within the UGA. The remaining 15 percent were permitted in the region’s rural areas.

Figure 4 charts the annual percentage of permitted new housing units located inside each county’s UGA from 1995 through 2006. While the four counties differ in the degree to which they have managed to contain growth within their urban growth areas, each county shows progress over time by succeeding in directing increasing percentages of new growth to the UGA.

Data Source and Limitations

For more information, read Puget Sound Trends “Population of Cities and Towns” September 2009, “Development Patterns Shift Under Growth Management” April 2008, “Employment Change in Puget Sound, 2006-2007” August 2008

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