Kitsap County’s business climate is as healthy as our environment. Local chambers of commerce, economic development officials, and local leaders in government work diligently with key agencies to
ensure permitting, processing, licensing, and taxes are minimal, expedited, and equitable. Our county has a skilled workforce of approximately 125,000, of whom roughly 35% commute to jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan centers. Local jobs are found in approximately 119,000 non-agricultural positions covered by unemployment insurance, and in thousands of other sole proprietorships.

Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge with Mt Rainier shown in background

About 1/2 of these non-agricultural jobs are military, federal civil service, and private sector defense contractor primary jobs* or secondary support services jobs. They directly or indirectly support major Navy installations, including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard  (PSNS), Naval  Base Kitsap,  Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, and  Naval Hospital Bremerton.

Kitsap County has continued on it’s pathway to a stronger and more vibrant community. With nearly 10,000 net new jobs created over the last five years, economic opportunities remain strong. Kitsap job growth has increased an average of 2.0% - beginning 2002 through the end of 2006.

Simply put, Kitsap County is a better way to work. We have cutting edge fiber optic telecommunications, which allows easy access to air, shipping, and rail lines. Kitsap has a great workforce, uncongested internal roadways, and desirable locations and communities for businesses and individuals to call home.

*Economist definition of a primary job: A job, the predominant output of which, in terms of product or service, is consumed outside the county.