Rising housing costs and a limited job market are driving many Western Washington University graduates to seek employment outside of Bellingham. As the end of the academic year approaches, thousands of students will need to factor in where opportunity will lead them.
According to a graduate outcomes report from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, a fifth of Western bachelor's degree holders remained unemployed in Washington state in 2022. Of those who did, only 30% remained in Whatcom County and 37% relocated to King County, including Seattle.
“My rent has gone up, my bills have gone up, and my everyday expenses have gone up since I started college,” said Adele Johnston, a second-year student at Western. “I do not believe I could afford to stay in Bellingham after graduation.”
Bellingham’s population and economy have been steadily growing for years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ line charts for Whatcom employment show a 21st-century trend of mountainous escalation with only two noticeable dips due to the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But can the city offer a job and home to the educated graduates it produces?
John Krieg, a professor and director of institutional effectiveness at Western, emphasized the university’s role is broader than the local job market.
"If students are going elsewhere in the state and finding jobs, that's a success. We're doing our job as a state institution," said Krieg.
Bellingham’s top sectors are government, healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, manufacturing and accommodation and food services, according to a 2023 report from the Employment Security Department.
"It strikes me that there are good jobs in Whatcom County,” Krieg said. “They may not be things that all college students are interested in, but there are good, well-paying jobs if you are interested in refineries, Big 12 education, hospitals — matter of fact, I had a student just get a job last week at KeyBank."
The rising cost of housing has made it increasingly difficult for new graduates to settle in the area. The median price for a home is approximately $650,000 — $200,000 more than the national median.
For students determined to stay, Krieg advised strategic preparation. He suggested surveying the area and noting which jobs were hiring the most, then training specifically for one of those professions.
“That might mean training for jobs that you're not very interested in,” Kreig said. “Outside of that, do your best at university, get out and work during the summers and get to know people."
As Bellingham and Whatcom County continue to grow, addressing job shortages and housing affordability will be crucial for young professionals who wish to build their futures in the community. In the meantime, students will have to be strategic in their education or likely set their sights elsewhere.
A graph explaining the geographical distribution of undergrads from Western Washington University. Most Western graduates end up in King County within a year of completing school. Data is courtesy of the school’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness. // Graphic by Alexander Robino
Alex Robino (he/him) is a junior this quarter, majoring in Creative Writing and Journalism. In his free time, he likes to play in the park with his family. You can reach him at robinoa@wwu.edu.
