Ports of Tacoma & Seattle Economic Impact Analysis
CAI partnered with the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the marine cargo operating partnership of the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, to prepare an Economic Impact Analysis to measure the Ports’ direct impact on jobs, income, and business output, as well as associated services tied to port operations (warehousing off-site transloading and more) and the broader economic and fiscal impacts of these activities to Washington State.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the Port of Tacoma, and Port of Seattle commissioned the CAI to measure and analyze the scale of their collective economic contributions to Washington State and the broader region. Port operations directly support trade, transportation, tourism, and the community, providing policymakers, business partners, and the public with a clear understanding of the ports’ role in regional competitiveness.
CAI’s Economic Impact Analysis underscores the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle, combined with the NWSA, as critical drivers of Washington’s economy. Their collective activities sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, and connect the region to global markets. By quantifying these impacts across diverse business lines, the study highlights not only the current value of the ports, but their strategic importance for the region’s and state’s long-term prosperity and resilience.
Key Findings
- Collectively, the ports and the NWSA supported more than 265,000 jobs and generated nearly $55 billion in business output. The Northwest Seaport Alliance alone accounted for approximately 52,000 jobs and $14 billion in output. The Port of Tacoma’s operations contributed more than 41,000 jobs and $10.8 billion in output.
- The Port of Seattle’s broader portfolio (aviation, cruise lines, fishing, real estate, and recreation) supported more than 205,000 jobs and $39 billion in output.
- Aviation at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was the single largest driver, supporting more than 175,000 jobs and $33 billion in output