This report compares taxable retail sales with employment and wages in Kittitas County’s and Washington’s retail trade sectors during the last eight calendar quarters for which data were available. Specifically, this period covers the four calendar quarters of 2004 and of 2005. The report provides a current “snapshot” of the structure of Kittitas County’s retail trade sector and explains similarities to/differences from Washington’s retail sector. - July, 2006

PowerPoint slides from a "Kittitas County Labor Market Update" briefing to the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Ellensburg" class on Friday, 17 December 2004

Presentation from Don Meseck - March 14, 2006

The Yakima County economy had a reasonably good year in 2005. Nonagricultural wage and salary employment averaged 76,200 jobs last year, a respectable annual growth rate of 1.5 percent. Across Washington the labor market expanded at a more robust pace of 2.8 percent during 2005.

These tables, from the US Census Bureau, show our region's high growth industries

Conventional wisdom dictates that as sales rise at retail trade stores so should employment and wages. A comprehensive review of over-the-year changes in these three variables from the 1st Quarter of 2003 through the 4th Quarter of 2004 across Washington and in Yakima County showed that: this rule held true across Washington during both years; it held true in Yakima County in 2003; but, it did not hold true in Yakima County in 2004.

Based on a survey of Washington State companies taken in September of last year, this survey estimates the number of firms that offer fringe benefits to their workders.

"Economic Update: Yakima County and Washington State" presentation given to the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (Yakima Chapter) 9 November 2004, by Regional Labor Economist, Don Meseck (PowerPoint slides 885Kb)

Choosing the right level of employee benefits to provide to your workforce is a tough decision for any businessperson.Are you offering more or less than your competition? What should you provide to reduce your turnover costs?

Released in February, 2004, this report looks at trends over the period 1990 to 2002. The average wage is available by industry and by county, and is often used to gauge the health of the economy.

The October 2003 Washington Job Vacancy Survey produces point in time estimates of job vacancies in Washington based on a survey of 20,407 employers with more than four employees (excluding federal agencies), representing a population of 72,676 firms. The overall response rate to the survey was 54 percent. The sample of establishments surveyed was randomly selected among firms representative of size class (number of employees), workforce development areas, and industries across the state.

Of the 325 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2005 annual average employment, 133 had over-the-year percentage growth in em- ployment above the national average in March 2006, and 184 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 127 of the largest U.S. counties, while the percent change in average weekly wages was below the national average in 193 counties.

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in November. Overall, 28 states and the District of Columbia recorded over- the-month unemployment rate increases, 10 states registered decreases, and 12 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 37 states, up in 8 states, and unchanged in 5 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in November at 4.5 percent, but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier.

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 294 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 61 areas, and unchanged in 12 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirty-eight metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.8 percent a year earlier.

Issues surrounding workforce are central to all communities' future planning. This report defines workforce characteristics, needs, and issues, and is available to organizations throughout the community for consideration or inclusion in their own short and long term planning efforts.

Published in June, 2004, this is a comprehensive report from LMEA including ag production, employment, earnings, demographics and outlook.

Labor Market Information Return to South Central WDC Home Page
QUICK LINKS: Labor Market Data At-A-Glance \| Current County Reports \| Washington State \| Wages & Projections \| Workforce Explorer \| Other Reports of Interest
Kittitas Kittitas County (State LMEA) From Don Meseck Kittitas County Profile Kittitas County Retail Taxable Sales, Employment, and Wage Trends This report compares taxable retail sales with employment and wages in Kittitas County’s and Washington’s retail trade sectors during the last eight calendar quarters for which data were available. Specifically, this period covers the four calendar quarters of 2004 and of 2005. The report provides a current “snapshot” of the structure of Kittitas County’s retail trade sector and explains similarities to/differences from Washington’s retail sector. - July, 2006 Kittitas County Labor Market Update PowerPoint slides from a "Kittitas County Labor Market Update" briefing to the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Ellensburg" class on Friday, 17 December 2004 Yakima Yakima County (State LMEA) Monthly from Don Meseck Yakima County Profile Yakima County Economic Update - 2005 - Presentation from Don Meseck - March 14, 2006 The Yakima County Labor Economy - 2005 Year in Review The Yakima County economy had a reasonably good year in 2005. Nonagricultural wage and salary employment averaged 76,200 jobs last year, a respectable annual growth rate of 1.5 percent. Across Washington the labor market expanded at a more robust pace of 2.8 percent during 2005.		Klickitat Klickitat County (State LMEA) Monthly from Scott Bailey Klickitat County Profile Employment Tables Skamania Skamania County (State LMEA) Monthly from Scott Bailey Skamania County Profile Employment Tables
Slides and Notes from Don Meseck's presentation at the CWU Economic Outlook Conference in Ellensburg, WA on October 20, 2006: “Are Central Washington Labor Markets Moving in the Right Direction?” By the way, the short answer is: “Yes.” Also available here is the following linkt to CWU's website where you can view the presentations given by: Dr. John Mitchell (Principal, M&H Economic Consultants and Regional Economist, US Bancorp, Portland, Oregon), and Dr. Desmond O’Rourke (President, Belrose, Inc., Pullman, Washington, Retired Professor of Economics, WSU): http://www.cwu.edu/~cob/special_events/eoc/eoc2006/eoc_home2006.html. Top Ten Industries by Employment and HIring Growth These tables, from the US Census Bureau, show our region's high growth industries
WAGES & PROJECTIONS Workforce Explorer Taxable Sales, Employment, and Wage Trends - August, 2005 Conventional wisdom dictates that as sales rise at retail trade stores so should employment and wages. A comprehensive review of over-the-year changes in these three variables from the 1st Quarter of 2003 through the 4th Quarter of 2004 across Washington and in Yakima County showed that: this rule held true across Washington during both years; it held true in Yakima County in 2003; but, it did not hold true in Yakima County in 2004. Washington Employee Benefits Survey - Sept 2004 - released March, 2005 Based on a survey of Washington State companies taken in September of last year, this survey estimates the number of firms that offer fringe benefits to their workders. Economic Update for Yakima County and Washington State "Economic Update: Yakima County and Washington State" presentation given to the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (Yakima Chapter) 9 November 2004, by Regional Labor Economist, Don Meseck (PowerPoint slides 885Kb) South Central Employee Benefits Survey Choosing the right level of employee benefits to provide to your workforce is a tough decision for any businessperson.Are you offering more or less than your competition? What should you provide to reduce your turnover costs? The Washington Wage Report Released in February, 2004, this report looks at trends over the period 1990 to 2002. The average wage is available by industry and by county, and is often used to gauge the health of the economy. Washington Job Vacancy Survey - October 2003 The October 2003 Washington Job Vacancy Survey produces point in time estimates of job vacancies in Washington based on a survey of 20,407 employers with more than four employees (excluding federal agencies), representing a population of 72,676 firms. The overall response rate to the survey was 54 percent. The sample of establishments surveyed was randomly selected among firms representative of size class (number of employees), workforce development areas, and industries across the state.
OTHER REPORTS OF INTEREST BLS - County Employment and Wages - First Quarter, 2006 Of the 325 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2005 annual average employment, 133 had over-the-year percentage growth in em- ployment above the national average in March 2006, and 184 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 127 of the largest U.S. counties, while the percent change in average weekly wages was below the national average in 193 counties. BLS - Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in November. Overall, 28 states and the District of Columbia recorded over- the-month unemployment rate increases, 10 states registered decreases, and 12 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 37 states, up in 8 states, and unchanged in 5 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in November at 4.5 percent, but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. BLS - Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 294 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 61 areas, and unchanged in 12 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirty-eight metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.8 percent a year earlier. State of the Workforce - 2003 Report for the South Central Region Issues surrounding workforce are central to all communities' future planning. This report defines workforce characteristics, needs, and issues, and is available to organizations throughout the community for consideration or inclusion in their own short and long term planning efforts. Agricultural Workforce in Washington State - 2003(565K pdf file) - Published in June, 2004, this is a comprehensive report from LMEA including ag production, employment, earnings, demographics and outlook.