King County is the epicenter for industry sectors that provide stability and improve job growth. The following represents a sampling of key clusters that drive the local economy -- today as well as into the future:

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Information Technology
Some of the most recognizable names in the software and information technology industry reside in King County. These pioneers include Amazon.com, Expedia, Nintendo, and Microsoft. The talent pool for information technology professionals in the regions is so rich that many companies, such as Google, have identified this community as a key location for the future growth of their business.                 

Clean Technology
As local businesses are generating revenue in harmony with the environment, venture capital firms are investing in local companies that improve water purification, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, recycling, air quality, and alternative energy around the world. More than 400 companies in the State of Washington employ over 16,000 people and the vast majority of those businesses are located in King County. It is these companies coupled with a culture committed to the health of the environment, that make our clean technology industry one of the largest conentrations of enviromnental and alternative energy businesses in the country.

Biotechnology (Life Sciences)
Nearly 160 bioscience companies, with over 12,500 employees, reside in King County. A total of 15 research organizations and three research hospitals call Seattle home. The University of Washington is among the top public research universities in the world. It receives approximately $1 billion in externally funded, peer reviewed research grants every year, placing it second only to Harvard in total National Institutes of Health research funding, and to Johns Hopkins in total federal research funding.

Tourism
King County is a domestic and international tourism destination, featuring scenic beauty, temperate climate, both metropolitan and rural activities, and easy accessibility by air, land and water. Tourism is the state's fourth largest industry and the Western Washington region accounts for over half of the statewide tourism industry. Over the years King County has gained a reputation for providing excellent venues for conferences and conventions. Large convention centers include the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Bell Harbor International Conference Center, a new Stadium Exhibition Center and the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. The county has approximately 80 hotels with conference or convention meeting space and about 28,000 hotel rooms.

Services
Service industries provide added resilience and opportunities to the King County economy. Engineering, architecture, advertising, finance, computer and other professional services meet the needs of the region's producers and add value to their output. Health care employment is projected to continue growing dramatically, while higher education and research are more important than ever as the demand for a highly educated workforce increases across all industries.

For example, for every dollar generated by an engineering or other professional services firm, an additional dollar is generated in the local economy. While these service industries will continue to primarily serve the needs of the local economy, they also serve as a competitive advantage for attracting new businesses to the area.

Most professional service firms are small, averaging 15 employees, and feature a wide range of wage opportunities. Recent job growth has been in the higher paying jobs requiring educated workers, and increasingly, these firms are competing nationally and internationally, fueled in large part by advances in telecommunications and information technology industries.

Logistics and International Trade
One in three jobs in Washington state support the trade industry. This region's strategic location with regard to the Pacific Rim, our deepwater port, and vast experience in international trade make it one of the leading trade hubs on the West Coast.

In 2006, Washington State ranked 4th in the nation in terms of overall export value (behind only Texas, California, and New York, in that order) with 206 foreign destinations. The total value of merchandise exports from Washington State exceeded $57 billion in 2006. Nearly three-quarters of Washington's exports are from the central Puget Sound region. As a result, the economy is extremely dependent upon foreign trade. International trade provides (directly and indirectly) nearly 740,000 jobs annually. One in three jobs in Washington is tied to foreign exports. While the state represents about 2% of the nation's population, its ports handle 7% of all U. S. exports and receive a 6% share of the nation's imports.
(Source: TradeStats Express)