Washington’s life sciences industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, with the workforce expanding by 50% to nearly 48,000 employees between 2013 and 2023, according to Life Science Washington’s latest economic impact report.
This growth is largely fueled by Washington’s homegrown life sciences companies, many of which have spun out of local research institutions like the University of Washington and the Institute for Protein Design. Marc Cummings, CEO of Life Science Washington, noted that “we had sort of grown slow and steady for 20 years, and then really in the last decade, have just taken off,” pointing to the role of AI leadership, talent retention, and entrepreneurial support.
This national spotlight reinforces Washington’s position as a rising leader in life sciences innovation and economic growth.