A new economic impact analysis has quantified the employment and output associated with The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the Port of Tacoma, and the Port of Seattle in 2023.
The three organisations were linked to more than 265,000 jobs, $17.7 billion in wages and benefits, and nearly $55 billion in business output.
The report is the first to combine all lines of business across the Seattle-Tacoma gateway into a single analysis, covering marine cargo, aviation, real estate, commercial fishing, and cruise.
It distinguishes direct employment, longshore workers, truck drivers, airport staff, from indirect and induced economic activity attributed to port operations.
The NWSA, which manages marine cargo across both harbours, handled nearly three million TEUs of containerised cargo in 2023, among the highest volumes of any US gateway. It also processes auto imports and breakbulk cargo.
The alliance’s operations were linked to an estimated 52,100 jobs, including 18,000 direct roles, $4.4 billion in wages and benefits, and nearly $14 billion in business output across Washington State.
At the Port of Tacoma, trade through the NWSA’s South Harbor combined with the port’s other business lines was linked to more than 41,000 jobs, $3.4 billion in wages and benefits, and $10.8 billion in business output.
READ: NWSA volumes soften despite import growth
John McCarthy, Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair and Port of Tacoma Commission President, commented on the state’s trade dependency: “We often talk about Washington being the most trade dependent state in the nation. What we don’t always talk about is how the trade that comes through our gateway is the catalyst for a robust supply chain ecosystem and quality living wage jobs across the state.
“We aren’t just dependent on trade, we excel at it. That trade excellence also serves the rest of the country. We are the ports of Idaho farmers and Midwest consumers; we serve a role of national importance and impact.”
The Port of Seattle’s business lines were linked to almost $39 billion in total business output, more than 205,000 jobs, and $396 million in fiscal impact to the state.
READ: NWSA launches World Cup container display at Terminal 46
Toshiko Hasegawa, Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair and Port of Seattle Commission President, addressed the findings: “At the Port of Seattle, we’re building the port of the future, one that drives economic opportunity, safeguards family-wage jobs, and advances environmental stewardship.
“This report reaffirms that our marine cargo and aviation gateways are vital to the economic health of our region. And just as important, it reflects the strength of our decade-long collaboration between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma through The Northwest Seaport Alliance ‒ proving what’s possible when we come together with a shared vision for sustainable, inclusive growth.”
For more information:
The Northwest Seaport Alliance – https://www.nwseaportalliance.com/
