Seattle Jobs Report Shows Major Downtown Employment Decline

Seattle lost more than 18,000 jobs between 2024 and 2025, with approximately 13,000 of those losses concentrated in downtown, according to new analysis from the Downtown Seattle Association. That means roughly 70% of Seattle's citywide employment decline occurred in the downtown core. The Downtown Seattle Association's analysis, “Seattle's Shifting Employment Landscape: The Downtown Jobs Struggle,” examines Seattle's employment performance against other cities in the Puget Sound region and major metropolitan areas across the country. While Seattle lost more than 18,000 jobs between 2024 and 2025, Bellevue added 5,375 jobs and Tacoma added 662 during the same period, according to the analysis. Downtown Seattle remains the region's largest employment center, but its workforce remains below pre-pandemic levels. The Downtown Seattle Association says Seattle experienced significant job losses in sectors including technology, construction and professional services. Dennis Sills, DSA's vice president of advocacy and economic development, said the organization is concerned about Seattle's economic competitiveness and the concentration of recent employment losses in downtown. DSA President and CEO Jon Scholes said Seattle needs to remain a place where employers want to invest, grow and create jobs. Scholes also said Mayor Katie Wilson's proposed budget sends a helpful signal by not adding new business taxes while calling for a renewed focus on expanding Seattle's employment base and supporting existing businesses. The analysis comes as the Seattle City Council reviews Wilson's proposed 2027-2028 city budget. DSA compared Seattle's employment performance with other cities that have experienced stronger job growth and highlighted differences in economic and fiscal policies. The organization, however, says its analysis does not establish that Seattle's taxes, regulations or other policies caused the city's job losses. Seattle's downtown economy continues to show mixed signals. Employment and the office market remain significant challenges, with downtown office vacancy elevated and the central business district's vacancy rate above 32% in 2025. At the same time, other downtown indicators have improved, including visitor activity, worker foot traffic and some public-safety measures. Today's report examines Seattle's loss of more than 18,000 jobs, the approximately 13,000 jobs lost downtown, Seattle's business climate, economic competitiveness, downtown office vacancy, Mayor Katie Wilson's proposed budget and how Seattle's employment performance compares with Bellevue, Tacoma and other cities. Follow The Center Square for continuing coverage of Seattle jobs, downtown Seattle, Washington's economy, business, taxes, employment and Seattle city government. Want the next important update by text? Get the Washington state government and policy developments worth your attention sent straight to your phone. Text TCSWA to 206-944-3016 or sign up here: https://joinsubtext.com/c/thecentersquarewa Msg & data rates may apply. #Seattle #SeattleJobs #DowntownSeattle #SeattleEconomy #SeattleBusiness #KatieWilson #WashingtonEconomy #Jobs #Business #WashingtonState #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus