Looking at Seattle today, it is hard to believe that not too long ago, it was a city in dire economic trouble. During the 1970s and 80s, people doubted that Seattle would exist as a city for much longer. There was work for some small enterprises, including little shops using woodworking machinery to make goods for sale for tourists to buy, but on the whole not many had hope for the city.

Well, what a difference a few decades can make. Today's Seattle is one of the most important business centers in the entire United States, and definitely the most important in the Northwest. The city has a diverse economy which is home to some of the best recognized names in American business today. Let's take a look at some of the sectors in economy where you are sure to find employment when you have a zip in Seattle.

Manufacturing

The best known manufacturing company in Seattle has to be Boeing. In fact, many Seattle residents still believe Boeing to be inextricably tied to the city's economy. A vast network of cable sheaves, forklifts, employees, welding equipment, and other essentials connects the Boeing plants all over the city. The company manufactures several different airplanes and airplane parts in different plants in Seattle and its outlying areas.

Another large manufacturing company based in Seattle is Weyerhauser, creator of various goods in the forestry sector. Residents can count on jobs applying boiler water treatment chemicals in the plants or working in the mills operated by this international giant.

Software and computers

Everyone knows that Seattle is closely tied to the computer industry. This all started back in the late 1970s. When Microsoft moved operations here from New Mexico. That got the ball rolling, and soon companies from Amazon to AT&T and RealNetworks set up shop in the city too.

The presence of these high tech businesses proved a magnet for other technology based companies, including those in the biomedical industry. And of course, those areas spawned further growth in the service sectors of the Seattle economy.

Retail Headquarters

Fans of wholesale giant Costco and Nordstrom might be surprised to learn that both have their corporate offices in Seattle. That means big opportunities in several areas, from development to human resources.

Many international companies base their American operations in Seattle as well. These include Nintendo, Trubion, and Vulcan.

Commerce

All of those wealthy companies have meant Seattle has developed as a commerce hub in the Pacific region. You'll find huge mutual fund corporations and banks headquartered in the city.

The presence of so much money and so much opportunity means that Seattle is the perfect place to start up if you want to be your own boss. The success of Starbucks and Amazon are proof enough of that!

There was a time when the economy of Seattle revolved around manure handling and natural resources. That time has passed, and today's Seattle is an upscale city with lots of opportunities in the business sectors.