In 2016 the Technology Alliance conceived of an interactive site that would show how technology is transforming industries across the state of Washington. The TechAlliance contracted Community Attributes Inc. to help turn this vision into a reality. Combining technology, data and stories, this site allows users to explore the many ways that technology influences, changes and is integral to the success of core industries in Washington.
All data used throughout this site is publicly available. Data presented in tables and charts uses the following sources:
The following are themes and methods used throughout the analysis presented on this site.
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This term is used throughout this site to demonstrate the proliferation of technology reliant occupations throughout Washington’s jobs and industries. Data and analysis here uses the definition of STEM provided by the SOC (Standard Occupational Code) Policy Committee Recommendation to OMB Attachment C. Data presented by region in the Washington map include employment in all STEM occupations listed in the OMB attachment above, across all industries.
Crosswalks between NAICS and SOC codes help define estimates of STEM employment by region and/or industry. Industry-based county employment data is matched with the crosswalk of NAICS to SOC codes in order to estimate occupation-based employment by region. These estimates are then matched to the SOC codes defined as STEM by the SOC Policy Committee Recommendation to OMB. STEM employment by region covers employment across all industries.
Graduate data only measures the number of individuals that complete programs at postsecondary institution by CIP code, or Classification Instructional Program codes. The number of graduates matching an occupation are determined by using the NCES Program to Occupation crosswalk. Once the number of graduates matching to each occupation are estimated by region, these estimates are matched to STEM occupations to determine the number of STEM graduates by region. STEM graduates by region and statewide are the cumulative graduates from institutions within each region or statewide between 2005 and 2015.
All references to Tech employment are estimated using the same methods as outlined under STEM Employment. However, the occupations included in the definition of Tech are a subset of STEM. The SOC codes included in the definition of Tech follow the Core ICT Occupations as outlined on page 7 of the Washington Technology Industry Association’s Information & Communication Technology Economic & Fiscal Impact Study.
Government includes: executive, legislative and other general government support; justice, public order, and safety activities; administration of human resource programs such as veteran’s affairs, education and public health; administration of environmental quality programs; administration of housing programs, urban planning and community development; administration of economic programs; space research and technology; and national security and international affairs.
Management of Companies and Enterprises includes: offices of bank holding companies; offices of other holding companies such as financial holding companies, insurance holding companies, personal holding companies and public utility holding companies; and corporate, subsidiary, and regional managing offices which includes centralized administrative offices, corporate offices, district and regional offices, head offices and subsidiary management offices.
Additionally, the estimates of employment within the below industries include government jobs attributed to the specific NAIC within the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage data.
Specific NAICS used in the charts and data tables presented in each of the three industry reports, Apples, Power and Health are:
Specific STEM occupations are grouped into the following categories throughout each of the three industry reports, Apples, Power and Health are: