From Trailhead to Summit: Spokane’s Women Are Powering the Climb

When you zoom in on Spokane County’s economy, you see women everywhere on the trail: launching companies, leading teams, and showing up for work in every sector from health care to manufacturing. Here’s the story the numbers tell—and why it matters for our region’s next big ascent.

By the numbers (facts you can feel)

• Nearly 1 in 5 employer firms in Spokane County are women-owned. That is 1,977 of 10,792 employer businesses in 2022 (≈18%). (Census.gov)

• Among Spokane County residents, women participate in the labor force at 72.7% (ages 16+). Translation: most working-age women here are in the game. (Employment Security Department)

• Washington State context: women own 35,273 of 152,437 employer firms (≈23%) statewide. Spokane’s 18% shows real progress and a wide open trail to grow. (Census.gov)

• Where women’s work shows up most: health care and social assistance remains a strongly female workforce locally (about 75% female in recent counts). (Employment Security Department)

What this means for Spokane

Women are a backbone of the local workforce. With strong participation and deep representation in service and care sectors, women stabilize households and critical industries. That reliability is a competitive advantage when we recruit employers, expand programs, or pitch big projects. (Employment Security Department)

Entrepreneurship is a growth lever we have not fully pulled. If Spokane closed even half the gap between our 18% county share and Washington’s 23% share of women-owned employers, we would add hundreds of new women-led companies to the map—each one hiring, buying, mentoring, and multiplying local impact. (Census.gov)

Certification and contracting are underused tools. Thousands of firms in Washington pursue state certification to access public contracts and visibility. The Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises reported 3,144 certified firms in FY2022, a signal that pathways exist when entrepreneurs choose to climb them. (omwbe.wa.gov)

The trail ahead: how Spokane can turn momentum into altitude

1) Make “first steps” friction-free.
Trailhead moments matter. One clear directory listing, one intake to find mentors, one hub to map funding and training reduces drop-off for first-time founders and side-gig builders.

2) Point to procurement.
Local agencies, colleges, and hospitals buy a lot. When women-owned firms are certified and visible, more contracts stay local. That keeps dollars in Spokane and grows employer capacity. (omwbe.wa.gov)

3) Build cross-sector ladders.
Health care may be the current ridge where women dominate, but the view gets wider when we create on-ramps in technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and trade services. Sector meetups, job-shadow days, and targeted micro-grants can shift what is possible. (Employment Security Department)

4) Normalize mentorship as infrastructure.
Nothing beats a warm intro and a real checklist. Pair Lead Guides (owners and execs) with Crew (professionals and emerging founders) for short, time-boxed sprints: pricing reviews, bid prep, lender intros, or first-hire playbooks.

Stories inside the stats

• Workforce strength: Spokane County averaged ~262,000 people in the labor force recently, with health care, retail, government, and hospitality among the largest employers. Women’s participation sits high across the prime working years. That is fuel for new ventures and team growth. (Employment Security Department)

• Entrepreneurial signal: An 18% women-owned share is real progress, yet below the state’s 23%. That gap is an invitation. Even modest catch-up would mean more local employers, more internships, and more role models for the next cohort. (Census.gov)

How HIKE fits: from Basecamp to Summit

• Trail Pass (Free): meet the community, list a basic profile, and find events that open doors.

• Basecamp: build skills, refine your pitch, and get your business found.

• Summit and Horizon: step into spotlights, mentorship circles, and partnership opportunities that scale your impact.

Every founder and professional climbs at a different pace. What matters is that the trail is clearly marked, the map is shared, and there is a hand on the rope when you need it.

Take your next step

Explore the Community to see how women in Spokane are growing businesses and careers together. Then choose your path—join as Lead Guide if you own the business, or as Crew if you are building within one. Your climb strengthens the whole region.

Key sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2022 employer firm counts) and Washington Employment Security Department county profile (labor force and participation). (Census.gov, Employment Security Department)