Health Care is one of the largest employment clusters in Washington. Of all clusters in Washington, Health Care has the greatest direct and total impact. Regardless of population density or industrial composition, Health Care is the leading or near leading industry in every region in the state.

27,041 people work in Snohomish County's Health Care cluster. Most work as registered nurses, and many more nurses are needed to meet the growing demand for services.

Health Care is a flourishing segment of Snohomish County’s economy. Even as medicine advances technologically, Health Care practitioners remain the backbone of this cluster. Health Care workers at all levels of education and training can expect to be in demand.

The Health Care cluster focuses on:

• Offices of physicians
• Offices of dentists
• Other health care practitioners
• Outpatient care centers
• Home health care services
• Ambulatory services
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals
• Speciality hospitals
• Nursing care facilities
• Residential mental retardation, mental health, and substance abuse facilities
• Community care facilities for the elderly
• Other residential care facilities
• Individual and family services
• Community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services
• Vocational rehabilitaiton services
• Child day care services