On Monday October 2, the Tukwila City Council voted to increase SEPA exemption thresholds. MBAKS applauds the Council for approving the following thresholds at the maximum allowed by state law, facilitating much-needed housing within the urban growth area.

On Monday, September 24, the Bellevue City Council took final action on Ordinance No. 6754, raising the SEPA categorical exemption flexible thresholds to the maximum levels allowed by state law.

In July 2023, the unemployment rate in Washington stood at a healthy 3.6%, while the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett metropolitan area boasted an even lower rate of 3.1%. Notably, the construction sector in the state experienced growth over the past year, adding 4,500 jobs between July 2022 and July 2023. With a total statewide construction employment of 240,900, these figures reflect a positive trend in Washington's labor market and its continued commitment to economic development.

King County recorded a 1.5 months' supply of housing inventory as of June 2023, indicating a slight increase from the 1.34 months' supply reported in June 2022. Similarly, Snohomish County saw its inventory supply rise to 1.07 months, up from 1.34 months a year earlier. Despite the increase, the current supply falls notably short of a healthy level.

The April 2023 population estimates have been released, highlighting a 1.1% growth since April 2022 in Washington. According to estimates from the Office of Financial Management, Washington's total population has surpassed 7.9 million residents, with a total of 4,437,100 just in the Puget Sound region. King County has witnessed the largest influx, with an addition of 30,100 individuals since last April. Snohomish County follows closely with a growth of 12,500 over the same time period.