Gov. Chris Gregoire shakes hands with Tayloe Washburn, one of her advisors on state aerospace industry issues, after they spoke Wednesday at Renton Technical College.

RENTON — The competition to build Boeing’s next airplane and keep nearly 80,000 jobs in the state is Washington’s contest to lose, Gov. Chris Gregoire and her economic advisers said Wednesday.

An outside study found Washington has an advantage over other states competing to assemble the 737 MAX, because existing workers and assembly lines can be put to work on the new plane. But other factors — those outside the reach of government such as labor contracts — could lead Boeing toward a different choice.

Boeing announced in August it would put new engines on the 737 to improve fuel efficiency and compete with the Airbus A320neo. Boeing is expected to announce next year where the MAX will be assembled.

Gregoire said assembling the 737 is likely to be the largest manufacturing contract in the world for at least a decade and Washington must win that contract and keep and grow aerospace jobs in the state.

The report from management consulting firm Accenture on Washington’s aerospace competiveness found the state would beat Texas and Kansas to build the new 737, but that Washington was not significantly ahead in the race.

Washington wins because of its experienced workers. But the state’s higher pay and possible work stoppages because of labor disputes work against it, according to the study.

“It’s our job to make sure we are taking nothing for granted,” Gregoire said, in proposing nearly $10 million in new state spending to put Washington in the best position for keeping the 737 in this state.

Gregoire said Washington has already been investing in training Boeing’s future workers, with 22 of the state’s community and technical colleges already working with Boeing. Walla Walla Community College recently dropped its carpentry program to make room for aerospace training.