Study: Nearly Half of Washington State's Jobs from China

A new study shows that nearly half of the jobs in Washington State’s economy are generated by Chinese imports and exports.

The study, sponsored by the Washington Council on International Trade and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, found that 40 percent of the jobs in the Evergreen State are linked to the international trade industry and Washington’s many shipping ports and transportation hubs.

The report also finds that 1.1 million of Washington State’s 2.8 million jobs are directly involved in the international trade industry. State exports reached $64 million in 2011.

The study goes on to report that exports to China have increased 230 percent since 2004.

“At the end of the day, we are inextricably linked right now to China, in a wide variety of ways,” said Eric Schinfeld, president of the Washington Council on International Trade, in a statement. “If there are going to be imports, we would like as many of them as possible. We want that global supply train to come through Washington state as much as possible.”

The Washington Council on International Trade points out that foreign investment directly into property and businesses in Washington State is also growing.