Our world is changing quickly. This has always been true, but it’s undeniable that it feels like the pace has quickened in recent times. It can be difficult to make major decisions in such a rapidly shifting environment, especially if you’re uncertain of the facts that separate us from the fiction. One tool we can use to help discern this division is environmental scanning. Environmental scanning is a critical tool for understanding the forces that are reshaping our world and helping us identify ways for us to interact with those forces, particularly with an eye to Washington State University’s strategic planning. To that end, the Office of Strategy, Planning, and Analysis (OSPA) has begun the work to create a series of environmental scans aimed to help us understand the forces at work on WSU and the state of Washington.
The first study in our series is an overview of some key demographic trends within Washington. As a land-grant institution, WSU both shapes and is shaped by the peoples of Washington. WSU strives to educate Washington’s population and contribute meaningful research that fuels the state’s labor market and uplifts its people. Only by understanding the existing and projected challenges faced by Washington and the many communities that comprise the great state can WSU appropriately direct itself and its efforts. As the population grows and diversifies, understanding these shifting demographic currents is essential for everything from program development to workforce planning.
What is environmental scanning?
Environmental scanning is the process of reviewing internal and external factors that can influence an organization’s decisions and future plans. For WSU, this means keeping an eye on everything from political and economic changes to technological innovations and shifts in societal needs. By staying informed in these key areas, we can adapt our strategies and ensure WSU stays relevant and competitive.
In practical terms, environmental scanning will help us understand key trends like changes in funding, new technologies that could impact how students learn, and demographic shifts that can affect enrollment. It will also help us spot potential risks, such as economic downturns, increasing competition, or new challenges in higher education. These insights can help guide WSU’s strategic planning, letting us better align our priorities with emerging trends and ensuring we stay ahead of the curve. It also helps us identify opportunities for growth, whether it’s launching new academic programs, building partnerships, or exploring cutting-edge research.
Ultimately, environmental scanning will empower WSU’s leaders with up-to-date and relevant data to inform their decisions. We aim to provide WSU with the insights needed to adapt to change, improve our students’ experience, and make sure our resources are being used effectively. In a world that’s constantly shifting, environmental scanning will help us stay flexible and continue fulfilling our mission to Washington and its residents.
Understanding current demographic trends
Washington’s population has been evolving rapidly, with migration patterns, age distribution, and cultural changes all playing a pivotal role in shaping and reshaping the state’s social and economic landscape. Whether it’s the rise in the number of retirees, the influx of young professionals, or shifting racial and ethnic compositions, these trends present both opportunities and challenges for WSU and the state at large. Through an analysis of Washington’s demographic trends, we can better understand the challenges for WSU and the state at large and how we here at WSU can adjust our strategies to meet both long-standing and emerging needs.
Key takeaways from our work include:
- Population Changes: Washington’s total population is still growing, but that growth has slowed since 2018. The population has also been getting older on average, while the population of individuals up to 29 years of age has been declining since 2014.
- Diversifying Demographics: Washington has experienced demographic changes over the last decade, adding over half a million people of color to its population, while its multiracial population has more than doubled since 2010. Additionally, Washington ranked as having the 9th highest international immigration rate among states in 2023.
- Declining High School Graduates: Washington is projected to graduate just over 72 thousand students from public high schools in 2025, but this count is projected to decline moving forward with a net projected loss of just over 9% of public high school graduates by 2032.
- Wage Pressures: The median annual income in Washington was just over $59 thousand in 2023, nearly 16% higher than the US median. The estimated living wage for Washington was over $53 thousand for 2023, just above the median annual income of just over $52 thousand for individuals with some college or an associate’s degree. This means that, on average, individuals without a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Washington do not make a living wage.
Ready to dive deeper? Explore the full study and discover detailed insights below to see how our findings can support informed decision-making and planning at WSU. Stay tuned for additional reports coming in the months ahead!
About the Author
Stephen Pool is a Data and Strategy Associate in the Office of Strategy, Planning, and Analysis (OSPA) at Washington State University. With his background in labor market analysis and education economics, he supports the WSU system by providing insights that inform decision-making and guide the university’s priorities.