Outcome: Increase business formation, expansion, and retention

Number of new businesses created

About this indicator

This indicator reports net change in the number of firms in King County. Businesses shown are employer units whose employees are covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act, regardless of size.

Key findings

• Since 2002, percent change in number of businesses: -1% (2009)
• Since 2002, percent change in number of businesses in wholesale and retail trade sectors: -11% (2009)
• Since 2004, percent change in number of businesses: 8% (2009)

Graphs and tables

• Graph: Average number of firms in King County (2002 - 2009)
• Table:  Number of firms in King County by sector (2002 - 2009)

Last updated October 2010

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Technical notes

Data taken from Quarterly Census on Employment and Wages (QCEW) Annual Data, available at the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD). Due to rounding, jobs by sector may not sum to the annual total.

As classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), "other services, except public administration" is dominated by private households, which comprises those households employing workers on the premises in activities primarily engaged in the operation of the household, including individuals such as cooks, maids, nannies, butlers, gardeners, caretakers and other maintenance workers. "Private households" has been removed from the classification for this indicator. "Business-to-business electronic markets" bring together buyers and sellers of goods via the Internet or other electronic means and generally receive a commission for services rendered. Markets for both durable and nondurable goods are included in this industry. This industry does not include business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer trade such as electronic shopping or mail-order houses. "Retail 'storefront' sectors" include: motor vehicle and parts dealers, furniture and home furnishings stores, electronics and appliance stores, building material and garden supply stores, food and beverage stores, health and personal care stores, gasoline stations, clothing and clothing accessories stores, sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores, general merchandise stores and other miscellaneous store retailers. These sectors account for roughly 94% of the firms and jobs in the retail trade industry.