MANUFACTURING

The Manufacturing industry in Spokane County has rebounded over the last decade with steady year-over-year job growth.

The rebound has been led in part by the Aerospace Manufacturing subsector, which now has more than 120 manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and related organizations located throughout the Spokane region. Spokane has a unique mix of factors giving it a competitive advantage in the Manufacturing sector – Low cost for utilities, low cost for land, a well-established school-to-work talent pipeline, and an easily accessible multi-modal transportation network of air, rail, and road. The Spokane region is also strong in the manufacturing of medical equipment, wood and paper products, and metals.

The manufacturing industry faces numerous challenges in creating new job growth, from technology and automation reducing the number of workers needed, to international demand and low cost competition. On the other hand, many of the workers employed in manufacturing are nearing retirement age, and developing a pool of talented workers to fulfill the expected replacement demand will be vital in keeping the industry strong.