Seattle mayor forms task force to broaden city's economic base

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced 18 members of a new Resilient Seattle Economy Task Force. The group includes representatives from Amazon, Spotify, the Port of Seattle, labor, technology, cleantech, and small business, and will focus on removing barriers to growth and improving the business climate. The effort follows a city report urging Seattle to diversify beyond large tech employers and strengthen sectors such as AI, cleantech, maritime, life sciences, and space.

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Mayor Katie Wilson appointed 18 people to a new Resilient Seattle Economy Task Force. Its roster spans Amazon, Spotify, the Port of Seattle, labor, technology, cleantech, and small business. The group will examine ways to reduce obstacles to expansion, draw and keep firms, and simplify launching and running a business. It follows a city report urging Seattle to lessen dependence on big tech and strengthen AI, cleantech, maritime, life sciences, and space.

That report found firms with 100+ employees generated 74.5% of net job growth in the metro from 2014 to 2023, while mid-sized firms contributed 16.6%. Seattle also lost about 24,000 jobs from March 2020 to March 2025 as tax collections rose, shifting more burden onto businesses. The task force will hold industry roundtables, with initial findings due February 2027 and a final report November 2027.

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