Personal tools
 
Sections
Goals
Clean and Sufficient Water Preservation of Wild Lands, Habitat & Biodiversity
Indicator Maps
Goals
Climate Protection Responsible Land Use Sustainable Transportation
Indicator Maps
Goals
Food Security Health Equity Income Equity
Indicator Maps
Goals
Healthy Living Choices Quality Educational Opportunities
Indicator Maps
You are here:   Home → Social Environment → Wages and Percent Employed by Sector
Document Actions

Indicator: Wages and Percent Employed by Sector

Data and Data Discussion provided by Puget Sound Regional Council

Employment Distribution and Average Wage by Sector 2006

Regional Employment Distribution by Sector 2006

Average Annual Covered Wages by County 2007

view full size
Upstream Indicators

There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.

Downstream Indicators
  •   Freedom from Discrimination --- Indicator information based on three surveys conducted in 1999, 2001 and 2004. There were no significant changes over the three survey years for the county.  (view data graph)
  •   Income Distribution --- In the two decades between 1979 and 1999, there was a shift of income away from the four lower income groups to the highest income group. In King County in 2004, the richest 20% of the population received more than ten times the income of the poorest 20%.  (view data graph)
more info
Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

Good jobs are hard to find. According to Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, "The service sectors hold a significant portion of King County’s total employment but represent some of the lowest wages in the local economy. Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Retail together comprise nearly 30% of the county’s total employment, but wage earners in those industries account for only 18% of the total wages in the local economy." (1)

Sustainability Trend:

Almost all sectors saw positive employment growth in 2006 and most have seen their highest growth from 2004 onwards. Not all clusters are seeing increases in the number of establishments. However, there have been four straight years of business establishments growth in clusters overall.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Average covered wage data by sector and percent employed by sector.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

In 2007, the average wage in the central Puget Sound was $51,300. King County had the highest average wage in 2007 with $56,200. Snohomish followed with the second highest at $45,400. Average wages in Kitsap and Pierce County were comparable with Pierce County at $39,600 and Kitsap at $39,500.

In 2006, there were 1,698,900 jobs in the Puget Sound region’s primary sectors, concentrated predominantly in King County. Over 40% of those jobs were in the Services sector, a diverse sector that can range from hairdresser to attorney. The Services sector represents a slightly larger share of employment in King County at 45%, compared to its share in other counties. Retail and Manufacturing are the second and third largest sectors.

The Manufacturing sector continues to have the highest average wages in the region, but the Financial, Insurance and Real Estate sector saw the greatest increase from 2005 to 2006 – a 9% rise. The slowest employment growth, 3%, occurred in the Wholesale, Transportation, and Utilities sector.

Data Source and Limitations

For more information, read "Puget Sound Regional Competitiveness Indicators: 2007-08 Update". Nov 2007 pg 13-16, and QCEW Annual Data 2007.

collapse all

Additional Resources