A new report shows that the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) supported over 265,000 jobs and nearly $55 billion in output through maritime trade in 2023.
Collectively, the three port authorities contributed $17.7 billion in wages and benefits and $55 billion in total business output last year.
The NWSA handled nearly 3 million TEUs in 2023, supporting 52,100 jobs, including 18,000 directly tied to marine cargo, and generating $4.4 billion in wages and $14 billion in business output.
The Port of Tacoma, through both NWSA’s South Harbor and independent port activity, contributed to 41,000 jobs, $3.4 billion in wages, and $10.8 billion in output.
READ: NWSA March TEUs grow 18 per cent
John McCarthy, NWSA Co-Chair and Port of Tacoma Commission President, said: “We aren’t just dependent on trade, we excel at it. That trade excellence also serves the rest of the country. We serve a role of national importance and impact.”
While aviation remains the Port of Seattle’s largest business segment, its maritime sectors—including cargo handling, cruise, commercial fishing, and real estate—made significant contributions.
Combined, these supported 10 of thousands of jobs and billions in economic output.
The study provides the first integrated view of the Seattle–Tacoma gateway’s full economic footprint across all port-related sectors, reinforcing its strategic importance to both regional and national trade.
Last month, NWSA recorded a 21.2 per cent decline in full international imports in May 2025 compared to the same month last year. The fall is partly attributed to shipping decisions impacted by ongoing tariff uncertainty, as full international exports also dropped by 10.7 per cent.
