By Joey Gunning, Director of Economic Development, Greater Spokane Inc.
It’s no secret that Spokane’s largest industry is health care. Health care and social assistance jobs in Spokane County have grown by 12% over the last five years, and at 50,418 total jobs, sits 36% above the national average for an area our size. About 1-in-5 people work in health care in Spokane.
Four of Spokane County’s top 12 employers serve this industry (Providence Inland Northwest Washington, MultiCare Health System – Inland Northwest, Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, CHAS Health). These institutions are more than just providers – they’re anchors for our local economy, talent pipelines, and innovation hubs.
But what is it about Spokane that makes health care thrive? This article by Dylan Avatar is a great place to start when seeking to answer that question: Why Healthcare Innovation Thrives in Spokane
In the article, Dylan discusses his journey to Spokane. He labels Spokane “the perfect mid-sized city – large enough to offer all the resources a growing company needs, yet small enough to maintain a strong sense of community and connection.” He emphasizes Spokane’s quality of life, its collaborative business climate, and its health care ecosystem as unique regional assets.
But he also highlights one of Spokane’s most strategic tools: the Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA). HSSA grants provide money specifically for economic development in Spokane, particularly in healthcare technology. For a region with limited formal incentive programs, HSSA is a rare and powerful differentiator, helping Spokane attract and grow health care innovators.
But it’s not just about how we recruit, it’s about how we respond.
Lightcast reveals that Spokane County has nearly 700 employers in Spokane County posted for over 10,500 unique health care-related jobs in the past year alone. The top two job titles being posted for are Caregivers (242) and Registered Nurses (203). Demand is so high for Caregivers, that employers are willing to pay 32% above the national median as well.
This rising demand is likely being driven by the same factor that is driving a strain on the workforce – something that has been coined as the “silver tsunami”. The silver tsunami refers to the significant demographic shift in the United States caused by the aging of the baby boomer generation. This wave of retirees is creating a larger proportion of older adults in the population, impacting various aspects of society. That dynamic is creating unprecedented demand for health care talent, particularly in caregiving and nursing roles.
If we dig a little deeper, we find that two of the top occupations that people are leaving in order to become Caregivers are Customer Service Representatives and Retail Salespersons. These are the same roles predicted to decline rapidly due to automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
So while AI may be reshaping or even replacing some jobs, it’s also sending talent into care-based roles that require uniquely human skills. The need for empathy, patience, and physical presence is driving real opportunity in health care.
As AI changes the nature of work, and aging populations reshape our labor demands, Spokane has a chance to position itself as a national leader – not just in delivering care, but in redefining what a modern health care economy looks like.
