OLYMPIA, Wash. — The monthly unemployment rate in the state of Washington increased to 4% for the first time in five months after the economy lost an estimated 2,600 jobs.
In the month of November, the Employment Security Department paid unemployment insurance benefits to 61,826 people which was a 7,162 increase in claims paid in the previous month.
"October’s job gains were largely reversed in November. Payroll employment dropped and the unemployment rate reached 4.0% after five consecutive months below 4%,” said ESD Chief Labor Economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman. "The demand for workers remains elevated. However, some softening of the labor market is evident.”
The four major industries that showed an increase and decrease in employment that affected this months rate were:
- The largest sector-level gains were observed in manufacturing (up 1,400). Employment gains were largely attributable to hiring by employers in the aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry.
- Government employment increases were concentrated in local government, not including local educational services.
- Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 900, with the largest observed gains attributable to arts, entertainment and recreation (+1,000).
- Employment in professional and business services fell by 2,600, with losses concentrated in administrative and support services (-1,800).
- Employment in construction decreased by 800 overall. Losses were concentrated among specialty trade contractors (-2,200).
The national unemployment rate decreased from 3.9% to 3.7% in November. But in the state of Washington the number of people who were unemployed rose from 153,315 to 161,716.
For more information or to view the entire Monthly Employment Report for November, go to the Employment Security Department's website.
