Christmas Storms, Hiring Trends, and Tech Layoffs: Seattle Local Pulse

Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Wednesday, December 25, 2024. We're starting off with a look at the weather, which is expected to be quite blustery today. A potent atmospheric river is arriving on Christmas Day, bringing heavy lowland rain and mountain snow. Conditions will be windy along the coast, through the Inlet, and for some portions of the North Sound. We're tracking the chance for heavy mountain snow from today into Thursday, with totals ranging from 1 to 3 feet. This will impact pass travel, so please monitor the weather and road conditions before heading out. In local news, the Seattle-Bellevue area has been ranked as the nation's 4th hottest hiring market. According to data from ADP, the region saw a 4% growth in hiring rate between July 2023 and June 2024. The hottest industries in the Seattle metro area were leisure and hospitality, with a monthly hiring rate of 6.1%, and construction, which was hiring at a rate of 5% with a starting wage of $25 per hour. However, the tech industry, which has been a significant driver of the local economy, has seen a decline in jobs. Almost 16,900 tech jobs have disappeared from the Seattle-area labor market since June 2022. This is attributed to a "right-sizing/reorganizing effort" across various tech employers, who have pivoted from aggressive hiring to stringent cost-cutting measures. In real estate news, home and mortgage prices in Seattle are up, but so is inventory. Would-be buyers face steep upfront costs, but the growing number of available houses may provide some relief. The median home price and inventory levels have seen significant changes in recent weeks. From city hall, there have been discussions about changes to regular school hours in Seattle Public Schools. The city is also giving five people a chance to paint the roof of the Space Needle using Galaxy Gold as part of an anniversary contest. Looking ahead to community events, the Space Needle will be hosting a New Year's Eve show, which is expected to be a little drier than today's weather. For those planning to attend, conditions are looking more favorable by the end of the week. In local achievements, the University of Washington has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Hearst Foundations. This is part of several grants awarded to Washington groups, including the Emergency Food Network. On a lighter note, a feel-good community story comes from the local arts scene, where a Tacoma musician is seeking support after a thief stole $8,000 worth of music gear from their car. In crime news, there have been reports of shots fired at a Pierce County Transit bus in Puyallup. Two suspects are involved, and the incident is under investigation. Additionally, the Seattle police chief has been fired, citing an affair. This has been Seattle Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.