1 Donald W. Meseck, Regional Labor Economist Labor Market and Economic Analysis Branch, Washington State Employment Security Department (Out-stationed at Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA) Telephone: (509) , FAX (509)

2 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Handouts Copies of Today’s Presentation (2 slides per page). For an electronic copy of these PowerPoint slides, contact me. The Yakima County Labor Economy (December 2002). This report is also posted in HTML and PDF formats on the LMEA Homepage at: http// Labor Market Information Products (July 2002 edition)

3 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Contents Map of Counties Served Nonagricultural and Agricultural (“Place of Work”) Employment Trends: Figures 1 through 5, and Table 1 Retail Sales and Retail Employment Trends: Figures 6-A through 6-D Unemployment and Labor Force (“Place of Residence”) Trends: Figures 7 and 8 Wages vs. Employment: Figures 9-A and 9-B Yakima County Update Questions

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5 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

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10 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

11 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

12 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

13 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

14 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

15 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

16 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce

17 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Government accounted for 22% of employment but 27% of wages. Retail Trade accounted for 18% of employment but only 11% of wages.

18 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Yakima County Update Last Year (Between 2001 and 2002): –Annual average nonagricultural employment contracted by 1.5%, a loss of 1,100 jobs. Manufacturing shrank by 500 jobs and Wholesale Trade dropped another 400. –BUT - Economy started to add jobs in the 4th Quarter of –Construction employment was stable, but assessed valuation of permits jumped: $61.8M in 2001, to $89.5M in –The resident labor force dropped for the fourth consecutive year while the unemployed rate improved. By the 4th Quarter 2002 more Yakima County residents were working, although many were commuting to jobs in Tri-Cities and elsewhere. –Population edged upwards from 224,500 to 225,000. High percentage of young and retirees (not in the labor force).

19 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Yakima County Update (Continued) Between December 2001 and December 2002: –Nonagricultural employment expanded marginally by 0.1% (versus minus 0.5% for WA). Economic Activity/Events –Declining employment at Fruit Packinghouses. –Growth of Business Services (expansion at Client Logic). –Steady growth in Health Services. –Movement of Yakima County’s retail center from downtown Yakima to Valley Mall & Valley Mall Blvd. area in Union Gap. –Retail Sales climbing and retail employment slowly following this trend. –Wal-Mart Distribution Center to open in Grandview.

20 Yakima County: 2002 Labor Economy Update Location: Doubletree Hotel Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA (January 27, 2003) Presentation For: Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Questions?