An economic impact study released this week shows that Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes generated more than $7.4 billion in gross state product in 2023 alone — up from $6.6 billion in 2020, according to a news release from Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA).
WIGA is a nonprofit Indian gaming trade association representing federally recognized tribes in the state of Washington committed to advancing the lives of Indian peoples — economically, socially and politically.
Commissioned by WIGA and authored by economists Amy Besaw Medford and Jonathan B. Taylor, “The Economic & Community Benefits of Tribes in Washington” report explains how tribal economies — supported by gaming and a growing and diverse range of businesses — are investing in essential services and creating jobs across the state.
“We’re witnessing a remarkable transformation in Indian Country,” Taylor said. “Tribes in Washington have gone from having very few jobs on reservations to being leading employers. Today, tribes together are the state’s eighth largest employer.”
According to the release, key tribal economic impacts include $3.9 billion in wages and benefits; $1.5 billion in state and local taxes; and 52,000-plus jobs supported statewide, most held by non-Indian employees.
Since 1990, the real income of American Indians on reservations in Washington has grown by 59%, college degrees have doubled, and family poverty has dropped by 46%. But significant challenges remain, the release stated. Native households still face poverty at four times the statewide average.
“While I’m proud of Washington tribes’ success, we have a long way to go,” said Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, who also chairs WIGA. “It’s important for the public to understand the impact tribal revenues have on our communities. These flexible revenues are a critical tool for our self-reliance.”
View the report online at washingtontribes.org/economic-impact/.
