Washington’s economy added an estimated 16,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted), and the monthly unemployment rate bumped up to 4.9% from April to May 2024. “The labor market is continuing to cool, but remains relatively healthy,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for the Employment Security Department. “Despite signs of cooling, Washington businesses collectively added several thousand […]
Washington’s average wage increases 5.9% in 2023
Washington’s average annual wage grew by 5.9% in 2023 to $89,138, according to the state Employment Security Department. The average wage grew more in 2023 than in 2022, when it grew by 2%. Employment Security uses the average annual wage to calculate: The state Department of Labor & Industries also uses the average annual wage to calculate […]
Payroll employment continues to increase in April; unemployment holds steady at 4.8%
Washington’s economy added an estimated 5,200 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate remained at 4.8% from March to April 2024. “Job growth is still trending up, but overall growth has slowed in recent months as net employment – the difference between job gains and job losses – continues to increase in some industries […]
Payroll employment continues increase in March; unemployment rises to 4.8%
Washington’s economy added an estimated 5,300 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate rose from 4.7% in February to 4.8% in March. Last month’s unemployment rate is the highest recorded rate since 2021, surpassing the previous high mark set in February. It also marked the sixth consecutive month of increasing unemployment rates in Washington. […]
Legislature, governor sign off on Employment Security Department bills
Thanks to a new state law in Washington, some people may no longer owe interest on their unemployment insurance debt. The law removes interest on unemployment insurance overpayments from the COVID-19 pandemic era. The Employment Security Department will not charge interest on these benefit overpayments until Jan. 1, 2025. The overpayments bill was one of […]
Payroll employment increased in February; unemployment rose to 4.7%
Washington’s economy added an estimated 2,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate rose from 4.6% in January to 4.7% in February. Last month’s unemployment rate is the highest recorded rate since 2021. It also marked the fifth consecutive month of increasing unemployment rates in Washington. Job growth remains positive, but the overall trend […]
Payroll employment decreased in January; unemployment rate rose to 4.6%
Washington’s economy lost an estimated 3,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate rose from 4.2% in December to 4.6% in January. The state’s labor force remained relatively unchanged year over year as several major industry sectors added or shed jobs. The first month of 2024 also showed that job growth is slowing, reinforced […]
Payroll employment increased in December; unemployment rate rose to 4.2%
Washington’s economy gained an estimated 7,700 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate rose from 4.0% to 4.2% in December. “December’s job growth was the strongest since June 2023 and marked five consecutive months of job growth, after revisions to November data. Despite strong job gains, the unemployment rate inched up from 4.0% to 4.2%,” […]
Payroll employment dipped in November; unemployment rate increases to 4.0%
Washington’s economy lost an estimated 2,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate rose from 3.8% to 4% in November. “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 Employment Security Department (ESD) Chief Labor Economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman. “The demand […]