By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Pierce is Only County in Seattle Metro Area to See Permit Activity Rise

Looking at the three-county Seattle Metro Area, Pierce is the only county to see permit activity rise through July 31 of this year, compared to the same period last year. The latest permit data from the U.S. Census Bureau show single family permits rose 13 percent and multifamily permits doubled in Pierce County. Meanwhile, King County saw a slight decrease in permits, with single family permits down 2 percent and multifamily permits down 4 percent. Snohomish County saw double-digit declines of 11 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The Builders’ Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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Contact: data@mbaks.com

June 2026 Builders Bulletin: Construction Leads Private-Sector Job Losses in April

Washington’s unemployment rate increased to 5.2% in April. According to the Employment Security Department’s Monthly Employment Report, the state’s economy lost 4,500 jobs between March and April. This includes 1,300 in construction—the largest drop in the private sector. These job losses were concentrated in construction of buildings and heavy and civil engineering.

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