From 2012 to 2013, Washington job growth was well above the national average. In numerical terms, King County added a healthy number, too.
According to a new Census Bureau report, Washington saw the second-highest percentage growth in jobs between 2012 and 2013. The increase was 3.5 percent to 2.4 million.
In the lead was Delaware, at 5.1 percent. Â Following Washington was California, also at 3.5 percent. Nationally, employment grew 2 percent during this period.
Even so, no Puget Sound region counties made the top 10 in percentage growth. Sacramento County was first, followed by Travis County, Texas (Austin), Harris County, Texas (Houston), Mecklenburg County, N.C. (Charlotte) and San Francisco County.
King County added 33,901 jobs from 2012 to 2013. Its number of business establishments grew by 330 to 64,171. Pierce County added 4,127 jobs to reach 227,238. Pierce business establishments rose by 143 to 16,584. In Snohomish County, the numbers were a 7,041 increase to 228,568, and up 315 to 17,213, respectively.
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For its population, King County did well. Similar-sized counties include Clark County, Nev., which added about 25,600 jobs, and San Bernardino County, Calif., which grew by about 17,600. Location and quality of the economy matter. But even Santa Clara County, Calif., aka Silicon Valley, added only 31,243 jobs during this period.
You can read the entire report here, which includes an interactive data tool for states and counties.
Today’s Econ Haiku:
No Comcast merger?
Where will Wall Street sail its yachts?
Antitrust channel
You can see all my columns at www.seattletimes.com/author/jon-talton/