Yakima Economy Shows Its Mettle

According to Forbes magazine, Yakima County is one of their best cities for job growth in 2010.  The Yakima metro area ranked ninth nationally among smaller cities for its employment outlook.  Our region also shot up the list 71 places from last year, based on positive employment gains in 2009.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Yakima County was one of five metropolitan areas in the country to add jobs between September 2008 and 2009.

Local experts suggest that Yakima’s agriculture based economy has helped the region weather the national recession.  Long growing seasons allow farmers to grow 39 different agricultural commodities.  This diversity within the region’s farm economy helps provide stability.  “Farmers maintain their margins most reliably by growing several commodities at once”, notes New Vision’s Lisa Smith.  “This helps them spread the risk not only for themselves but for our regional economy as well.”

Over the past few years, Yakima County has also seen employment gains in its health care, retail trade and transportation sectors.