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Economy in Review Southeastern Washington

Southeast Regional Academy- PWB & CERB

Ajša Suljić-Regional Labor Economist

Employment Security Department

May 22nd , 2013

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Three Years of High Unemployment Rates2012 and 2013 are showing downward trend

Average Annual Unemployment Rates, 1990-2012

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Source: Employment Security Department/LMEA/LAUS; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics/LAUS

Franklin County Columbia Adams AsotinGarfield Walla Walla Whitman Washington State

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Unemployment rate by County

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Local counties in recovery stateNonfarm employment (Indexed trend, Dec 2007=100)

90%

95%

100%

105%

110%

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64

Non

farm

Em

ploy

men

t Ind

ex (D

ec 2

007=

100)

Months ( Dec 2007=1 and Mar 2013=64)

Poly. (Garfield) Poly. (Columbia) Poly. (Asotin) Poly. (Adams)Poly. (Walla Walla) Poly. (Whitman) Poly. (Benton-Franklin) Poly. (Washington)

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Uneven growth across the area…

-25%

-20%

-15%

-10%

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Adams Asotin Columbia Franklin Garfield Walla Walla Whitman

2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009

2007-2008 2006-2007 2005-2006

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Key Industries• Government is

the largest sector in all nine counties

• Garfield 60.2% • Whitman 44.7% • Columbia 36.5% • Asotin 20.8% • Walla Walla

20.8%• Adams 21.7%• Franklin 19.2%

• Second Largest Industries are:

• Agriculture (Adams 23.3%, Franklin 19.7%, Columbia 11.9%, WW 13.6%)

• Health care (Asotin-17.0%, Walla Walla-14.4% and Whitman-8.5%)

• Retail trade ( All Counties (7.8% to 19.0%)

Gove

rnm

ent,

25.6

%

Transportation and warehousing, 2.3%

Professional and technical services,

1.8%

Finance and insurance, 1.7%

Admin. & waste services, 1.7%

Educational services, 1.5%

Information, 0.8%Arts, entertainment, and

recreation, 0.8%Real estate and rental and

leasing, 0.8%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics-QCEW, Employment Security Department-LMEA

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Payroll growth is big plus…

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Adams Asotin Columbia Franklin Garfield Walla Walla Whitman

2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-20092007-2008 2006-2007 2005-2006

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Percent Change in Population 2010-2012Franklin County growth 9.8%Columbia County loss 2.0%

Benton

Franklin

Walla Walla

Columbia

Garfield

Asotin

WhitmanAdams

SpokaneLincoln

Ferry

Stevens

Pend O

reille

Grant

Okanogan

Douglas

Chelan

Kittitas

Yakima

Klickitat

Skamania

Lewis

Clark

CowlitzWah.

Pacific

ThurstonPierce

King

Snohomish

Skagit

Whatcom

Grays Harbor

Mason

Jefferson

Clallam

Kitsap

Island

San Juan

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2011 PCP and MH Incomes

State MH income $56,537 and national MH of $50,502. State PCP income of $43,878 and national PCP of $45,560.

AreaMedian Household Income (2011)

Per Capita Personal Income (2011)

Adams $ 40,675 $ 31,704 Asotin $ 41,864 $ 35,230 Columbia $ 42,463 $ 39,259 Franklin $ 48,904 $ 29,711 Garfield $ 46,302 $ 35,999 Walla Walla $ 47,570 $ 35,276 Whitman $ 35,860 $ 30,379

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Going forward…

▶ Most of the counties are on the road to recovery, but very slow and uneven

▶ Replacement employment need▶ Industries that will be leading growth

▶ Health Care and Social Assistance▶ Employment in manufacturing (incl. food proc.),

health services, transportation (distr. chain), financial services, forest services and mining will continue to dominate employment in number and percentage of the labor force.

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Thank You

Ajša Suljić Regional Labor Economist

ASuljic@esd.wa.gov509-734-5928

esd.wa.gov/employmentdata