Trends in Tech Education and Hiring of New College Graduates in Washington State - Initial Results and Next Steps

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

Tracks technology education growth and hiring dynamics for new college graduates in Washington State, outlining early findings and next steps. Emphasizes how changes in the tech economy affect tech-related study programs and workforce demand, supported by regional industry context and workforce composition trends. Reviews increases in associate and bachelor completions across community and technical colleges and public/private universities, drawing on federal degree data and interviews with 11 stakeholders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Trends in Tech Education

Program expansion and degree growth

Ten-year graduate trends (CIP 11)

Method inputs (interviews and data sources)

Trends in Tech Education and Hiring of New College Graduates in Washington State: Initial Results and Next Steps Michael B. Bragg and Debra D. Bragg Bragg & Associates, Inc. February 9, 2026 Introduction Changes in the “tech” economy have important implications for tech-related programs of study and the workforce. Washington is headquarters to the primary operations of Amazon, Boeing, Expedia, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Tableau, and other firms employing the graduates of community and technical colleges (CTCs) , in addition to public and private universities (see Washington Technology Industry Association , 2023) . Between 2000 and 2021, Washington saw a 40% increase in science and engineering degrees, reflecting a higher growth rate than any state in the country and ranking Washington first in the share of workers in STEM occupations as a percentage of total state employment. At the present time, Seattle ranks second only to Silicon Valley on the density of regional tech talent in the nation (see the Greater Seattle’s Tech Industry 2024 Report) . In regions of the country where tech employment dominates labor markets, it is important to understand how shifts in policies and programming affect tech education and hiring across the state. According to research from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC ), intentional partnerships among state government, postsecondary education institutions, and employers have helped the state meet the burgeoning demand for tech talent. Washington has also operated as a magnet for tech talent from across the country, with Seattle ranked second among top talent markets in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and first in the nation for senior tech talent in AI. This brief is part of a series of new research reports on Washington’s postsecondary tech education and hiring. We begin with a discussion of growth in postsecondary tech completions at the associate and bachelor’s levels at CTCs and bachelor’s completionsat the public and private university level. We then discuss factors that may be contributing to changes in tech education, hiring, and employment in the state, drawing on academic literature, traditional media, and interviews with 11 individuals who have deep knowledge of tech education and hiring in the state (see Table 1) . Table 1. Interviewees on Washington’s Tech Education and Hiring | Date of Zoom Interview | Interviewee and Professional Affiliation | | --- | --- | | December 1, 2025 | Director, cybersecurity, CTC | | December 11, 2025 | Director, engineering career center, public university | | December 12, 2025 | CEO, tech company | | December 17, 2025 | Director, computer science, public university | | January 5, 2026 | Head, computer science, high school | | January 9, 2026 | Faculty computer science, public university | | January 9, 2026 | Faculty computer science, public university | | January 13, 2026 | New graduate, computer science, public university | | January 15, 2026 | CEO, tech company | | January 21, 2026 | Director, tech company | | January 21, 2026 | Vice President, tech company | Trends in Tech Education For more than a decade, Washington’s community and technical colleges (CTCs) and public and private universities have increased the production of postsecondary graduates in response to growing industry demand for tech employees. Responding to these calls for more talent, all 34 CTCs and all six public universities now offer degrees in fields such as computer science (CS), cybersecurity, data science, information technology (IT) ,1 and software engineering. Many private universities also offer programs, especially in CS. Collectively, these programs have generated a growing number of annual tech graduates in the state, contributing to the recognition of Washington as one of the nation’s leading tech employment hubs. To this point, federal data shows bachelor’s degrees in Washington more than doubled for the Classification of Ins

FAQs

Why are changes in the tech economy important for tech education and hiring in Washington?

The document explains that shifts in the “tech” economy have direct implications for tech-related programs of study and the workforce, affecting how graduates are prepared and hired across the state.

What evidence shows Washington’s tech-related degrees have grown significantly?

It cites federal data showing computer and information sciences bachelor’s degrees more than doubled from 2011-12 to 2021-22, and a 10-year analysis confirming steep increases in CIP-11 completions across higher-education sectors.

How much of Washington’s tech graduate output comes from CTCs versus public universities?

From 2014-15 to 2023-24, CTC associate and public university bachelor’s graduates comprise most tech graduates, with CTCs at about 45% and public universities at about 33% of all estimated tech graduates by 2023-24.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang