The Boeing Co.’s employment passed 80,000 workers in Washington in September – the first time since 1999.
New figures from the aerospace company show Boeing employed 80,666 workers in Washington at the end of September. That’s the highest figure since December 1999, when the company had 80,900 workers on its payroll.
Since last December, the company has added 7,049 employees to its Washington work force. The company is hiring as it increases production rates on all of its commercial airplanes made in Washington. Just last week, Boeing upped monthly production of its 737 at its Renton plant to 35 a month, a record.
Production at Renton is scheduled to jump to 42 a month by early 2014. It may increase further. The company has said it is exploring raising production volumes there to 60 a month.
Production of the company’s wide-bodied aircraft at its Everett plant is likewise accelerating as Boeing begins delivery of its 787 and 747-8 jetliners after several years of delays.
Also contributing to the employment increase is planning and engineering work on the new Air Force aerial tanker, which is to be based on the Boeing 767.
While employment here is at a 12-year high, it still has a long way to go to match Boeing’s all-time record in the state – 104,000 in June 1998. Boeing employment fell dramatically after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with the Chicago-based company drawing down the ranks to 52,763 in June 2004.
John Gillie: 253-597-8663 john.gillie@thenewstribune.com
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