Welcome to We Work For Health Washington. We’re dedicated to promoting the economic benefits of life science business and research for Washington state's economy and patients around the world. We Work For Health seeks to educate our elected leaders, the news media and the communities they serve about these key contributions of the life science sector in our state.
The biopharmaceutical sector is the foundation of one of Washington’s most dynamic innovation and business ecosystems. Not only does the industry invest heavily in the research and development of new treatments and cures, it also generates high quality jobs, powers economic output and exports for the U.S. economy and sustains a very large-scale supply chain.
Supporting High Quality Jobs in Washington
The innovative biopharmaceutical sector directly supported 15,398 jobs in Washington in 2017. These jobs are often high-skill, high-wage professions.
The industry also supported another 41,620 jobs indirectly, for a total of about 57,018 jobs across the Washington economy. These additional jobs are with vendors and suppliers such as construction companies and I.T. companies, and jobs generated by the sector’s employees such as day care centers and restaurants.
Washington workers whose jobs were supported by the biopharmaceutical sector paid a total of $914.3 million in personal taxes in 2017—$865.9 million in federal taxes and $48.4 million in state taxes.
Washington's Economic Impact
In 2017, the biopharmaceutical sector supported $13.5 billion in economic output for the state of Washington—including $5.5 billion generated directly by the sector, and another $7.9 billion through its vendors and suppliers and through the economic activity of its workforce.
Direct Output per Direct Employee in 2017
vendor relationships
vendor spending
$377,661,674
Find Your
Elected Officials
Partners
Co-Chairs
Brian Bonlender, Director, Washington State Department of Commerce
Patrick Pierce, President & CEO, Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Business, Economic Development, & Biopharmaceutical Partners
Novo Nordisk
Eli Lilly and Company
Bayer, Inc.
SEngine Precision Medicine
Northshore Bio
Downtown Seattle Association
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Washington Council on International Trade
Washington Roundtable
Greater Spokane Incorporated
Columbia River Economic Development Council
BIO Ventures for Global Health
Oregon Bioscience Association
Health Advocacy Groups
Washington Global Health Alliance
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Washington
Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation
Hepatitis Education Project
Washington State Oral Health Coalition
Washington Autism Alliance and Advocacy
HERO House
1-in-4 Chronic Health
NW Vets Place
Everyone for Veterans
Research and Academic Institutions
University of Washington
Washington State University
Washington Research Council
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research
