Features » Who Is and Is Not Working?

Age: In Washington State, 68.4% of people over age 16 were in the labor force in 2009, either employed or actively looking for work, compared to a national average of 65.4%.

Labor Force: Washington’s workforce continues to become more diverse across the state. Increases in the diversity of the state’s population and workforce are due to high rates of immigration as well as migration from other states.

From 1989 to 2009, white workers’ share of the Washington workforce fell from 91.1% to 76.7%. Over that same period the percentage of Hispanic people in the labor force nearly quadrupled to 8.5%, Asians increased from 2.5% to 7%, while African American workers’ share held fairly constant.

The Washington State Office of Financial Management’s projections show the state’s minority population growing from 21% to 32% of the population, with Hispanics the fastest growing of all race and ethnic groups.

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