Twenty-seven business organizations, as well as the regional Prosperity Partnership, King County, the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and the Washington Research Council are launching a comprehensive survey to assess conditions for employers in King County and tell the story about operating and growing a business locally.
The first-ever “Job Sector Survey” aims to collect measurable data about the sentiments, challenges and aspirations of King County employers. Results will be broken down by industry sector, geographic area and company size. This will form a data-rich illustration to guide elected officials, policy-makers and community leaders when making decisions that impact the local economy.
“The survey will tell us what employers on “Main Street” face every day and what they need to succeed,” said Phil Bussey, president & CEO of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. “By capturing many different business voices—from storefront retailers to multi-national companies—we will finally have a substantive and relevant information base to determine the best ways to keep and grow jobs.”
“Seattle businesses have been remarkably resilient during the economic downturn, and we must remain innovative in our efforts to support business growth and ensure shared prosperity,” said Steve Johnson, acting director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development. “It’s essential that government understands the needs of businesses and remains pro-active in its efforts to support business and job growth.”
“Seattle and King County are truly unique in the depth and diversity of industry sectors,” said Bob Drewel, executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. “Our task is to assess the strengths of those sectors and then to sustain and to grow them. This survey will be a vital piece of information for regional leaders at all levels.”
Invitations for the online survey will be distributed to employers by each of the partner organizations beginning July 12. A link to the survey will also be posted at http://itstimeforbusiness.com and a hard copy will be available upon request. Responses will be collected until July 24. Each survey respondent will be entered to win two Southwest Airlines Green LUV tickets.
Since multiple organizations will be sending invitations, a single employer may get the survey from several sources. To verify data, participants will be asked to provide contact information. These details will remain confidential and no attribution to individuals will be made.
Partner organizations include:
Associated General Contractors of Washington, Association of Washington Business, Building Owners and Managers Association of Seattle King County, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, Downtown Seattle Association, enterpriseSeattle, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Greater Seattle Business Association, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, King County, King County Bar Association, Madison Valley Merchant Group, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, National Investors Relations Institute Seattle, Prosperity Partnership, Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Business Coalition, Seattle Hotel Association, Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, Seattle Nightlife and Music Association, SODO Business Association, Tabor 100, Technology Alliance, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Trucking Association, Urban Enterprise Center, Washington Research Council, Washington Restaurant Association, Washington Retail Association, Washington Roundtable, Washington Technology Industry Association
Additional partners are welcome. For details, contact George Allen at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce at georgea@seattlechamber.com or (206) 389-7268.