Nearly 1-in-4 Washington employers considering leaving the state, new survey shows

Washington businesses increasingly looking to relocate out of state, new survey says

Nearly 1 in 4 Washington businesses are now considering relocating out of state due to increasing tax burdens and worsening economic sentiment, according to the Spring 2026 Washington Employers Survey.

Nearly 1-in-4 Washington employers considering leaving the state, new survey shows

Nearly 1-in-4 Washington employers are considering moving their businesses out of the state, according to a survey from the Association of Washington Business (AWB) published Monday.

Survey: Nearly one in four Washington businesses now considering leaving state

A new survey shows the number of employers looking to move their business out of Washington rose to 24%, up from 17% in the prior quarter and nearly triple the number reported in the Association of Washington Business’s (AWB) winter 2025 survey 16 months earlier. Another 55% said they are considering moving their personal residence to another state, up from 44% the previous quarter. In Spokane County, a short drive from the Idaho border, 67% of …

Washington Employers Are Looking for the Exit

Association of Washington Business President Kris Johnson comments on findings from his organization's spring employer survey in a new column.

Survey: Nearly 1 in 4 Washington Businesses Are Considering Leaving the State

Washington’s business climate is deteriorating fast, and employers are increasingly looking for the exit. A new survey from the Association of Washington Business found that nearly one in four Washington employers are now considering moving their businesses out of state, reflecting growing frustration over taxes, regulations, and the state’s economic direction. The survey, which included responses from more than 400 employers across Washington, …