James McCafferty

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For many job seekers, WA job market still far from a pre-pandemic norm

Taken as a whole, Washington’s “labor market still tilts in favor of [job] seekers,” says James McCafferty, co-director at the Center for Economic & Business Research at Western Washington University. But in some sectors, McCafferty concedes, “it may not feel like it.” 

2024-01-03
Pandemic shopping spree creates economic windfall for rural communities

Before the pandemic, many rural counties struggled to bring in enough taxes to fund services.

But a change in how we collect sales tax, followed by a pandemic, has turned things around for some of them, at least for now.

To understand what changed, you have to go back to 2008.…

2022-06-07
During the pandemic Whatcom bankruptcy filings have tumbled to record lows. Here’s why

Despite plenty of pandemic-related shocks to the Whatcom economy, bankruptcy filings in 2021 set a record low. Last year, 155 bankruptcies of all chapters were filed in Whatcom County, according to data from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Washington in Seattle. That’s down 25%…

2022-01-18
In Whatcom County, these industries pay wages well above the national average

In the last 10 years, Whatcom County’s hourly wage has usually been 5% to 8% below the national average, with the gap being even larger compared to the Seattle area.

More dense urban areas such as Seattle tend to have wages rise higher because there is a large base of higher wages…

2021-07-13
WWU economists look ahead to Whatcom's post-pandemic economy. Here's what they see

As we head into uncharted waters of possibly fewer pandemic restrictions and a huge financial stimulus package, Whatcom County’s economy could see some good and not-so-good scenarios in 2021.

Local economists Hart Hodges and James McCafferty hit on a wide range of topics during their…

2021-03-31
Here’s what holiday shopping will be like without Canadians in Whatcom County in 2020

One strategy that’s become clear is that retailers are pushing for an earlier start to the holiday shopping season, said James McCafferty, co-director at the Center for Economic and…

2020-11-09
Here’s what holiday shopping will be like without Canadians in Whatcom County in 2020

One strategy that’s become clear is that retailers are pushing for an earlier start to the holiday shopping season, said James McCafferty, co-director at the Center for Economic and…

2020-11-09
How coronavirus could make Bellingham a new Seattle suburb

"Folks that are more typical renters have seen much more financial impact from COVID-19 than people who are buying homes," said James McCafferty, co-director of Western Washington University's Center for Economic and Business Research. "That's one of the reasons the home market has remained…

2020-08-17
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Names WWU a 2019 Innovation & Economic Prosperity Designee 2019-11-13
Whatcom’s unemployment rate is on the rise, but is that a bad sign for job market?

Hart Hodges agreed, saying more people seem to be moving here with a belief they can find work. Hodges is the co-director at the …

2019-08-26
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