Optimism, but also many ‘what-ifs’ in latest economic outlook

Hart Hodges expects between 2 and 2.5 percent job growth in Whatcom and Skagit counties next year. That’s good, but it won’t feel as good compared to the early 2000s because Seattle’s job and wage growth is expected to be even bigger.

One trend that is expected to continue into 2017 is that economic growth will be stronger in urban areas of Washington state than in rural communities, said Hodges, who is the director at the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University.