Washington’s average wage tops $50K for first time
Filed on 12. Jun, 2013 in News
Washington’s average annual wage grew by 3.4 percent in 2012, to $51,595, surpassing $50,000 for the first time, according to the state Employment Security Department. The average weekly wage rose from $959 to $992. These figures include only those wages that are covered by unemployment insurance. Much of the increase was driven by a 6.1 [...]
New advisory council will advocate for region’s coastal resources
Filed on 29. May, 2013 in News
A new advisory group in Washington state designed to advise government agencies on issues facing the region’s marine waters and shorelines has been officially established through legislation recently signed by Gov. Jay Inslee. Members of the group, called the Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council, represent ocean and coastal interests for the Pacific coast, including commercial fishers, shellfish growers, conservationists, [...]
State delays small-business health insurance exchange
Filed on 17. May, 2013 in News
A new health insurance exchange designed to help small businesses in Washington find insurance for their employees will not be fully operational this fall, as was planned, The Associated Press has reported. Instead, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange will run a pilot program for small businesses in a few counties, beginning in October. The state’s [...]
Washington unemployment estimated at 7 percent in April
Filed on 15. May, 2013 in News
Washington state’s unemployment rate is continuing its recent decline, hitting an estimated 7 percent in April—the lowest point the jobless rate has been at since December 2008, according to the state’s Employment Security Department. The state added an estimated 3,800 jobs in April, seasonally adjusted. Economists also revised the March job numbers upward by nearly [...]
Washington has 3rd lowest worker fatality rate, labor report says
Filed on 07. May, 2013 in News
Washington state has the third lowest worker fatality rate in the country, according to a new report from the AFL-CIO. In 2011, 60 workers were killed in Washington, according to the report, giving the state a worker-fatality rate of 1.9 deaths per 100,000 workers. Nationally, 4,693 workers died on the job in 2011, a rate [...]
Washington ranked as most bicycle-friendly state
Filed on 04. May, 2013 in News
Washington state earned top ranking as the most bicycle friendly state in the nation from the League of American Bicyclists. It is the sixth consecutive year the Evergreen State has achieved the number one spot in the Bicycle Friendly States ranking. The League of American Bicyclists partnered with the Bicycle Alliance of Washington to review and provide recommendations [...]
New state law aims to make employee training cheaper
Filed on 03. May, 2013 in News
A new state law should make employee training more affordable for small businesses in Washington, said leaders of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. SHB 1247, which was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on May 1, is designed to make it easier for small businesses to train employees in partnership with community and [...]
Web page aims to help those reeling from sequester cuts
Filed on 09. Apr, 2013 in News
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions has created a new resource on its website to assist residents facing tough financial in the wake of federal sequestration budget cuts. “Financial Help for Hard Times,” has been added to the department’s financial education online resources. The page collects resources—from budgeting and saving, credit and debt, to health [...]
Report shows outdoor recreation’s impact on Washington jobs
Filed on 21. Mar, 2013 in News
Outdoor recreation in Washington state supports 226,600 jobs, generates $7.1 billion in wages and produces $1.6 billion in state and local tax revenue each year, according to figures released by Outdoor Industry Association, a Colorado-based trade association for the outdoor industry. The report cited Washington’s variety of outdoor-recreation destinations, including Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier [...]
Apartments drive state economy to the tune of billions
Filed on 15. Feb, 2013 in News
Washington state received $28.7 billion in economic contributions in 2011 from the construction, operation and resident spending tied to apartment buildings, according to a new report from the National Multi Housing Council and the National Apartment Association. Apartment developments and their residents supported nearly 678,000 jobs in the state, according to the report, which also found [...]
