Some WA industries face labor shortages, even as others see large-scale layoffs

Employer needs are going unfulfilled in the Puget Sound region job market.

The demand for labor exceeded supply by 187.49% in a tight local job market in August, data from the Washington State Employment Security Department shows.

There were 97,852 total job openings compared to just 34,037 available workers across King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. That translates to almost three jobs for every potential worker seeking employment.

As a result, the competition for skilled workers has pushed wages higher. Wages and salaries for private industry workers in the Seattle metropolitan area increased 4.6% year-over-year in June compared to 3.5% nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages in Seattle grew at the third-fastest rate in the country, trailing Minneapolis and Houston.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/11/07/workforce-development-talent-mismatch.html