Washington state unemployment rate continues to remain steady at 4.4%

OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 5,800 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in April 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate remained at 4.4%.

“Although the unemployment rate remains steady and low, the count of jobs in Washington has dropped for three consecutive months,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department. She added, “Payroll estimates remain above the tally for last April, but only by 1,200 jobs or 0.03%.” In the past 12 months, the state added 1,200 jobs — a 0.03% increase. See the total jobs chart in this news release for detailed information.  In April, new employment data shows nonfarm employment decreased by 5,200 and government employment decreased by 700.  The largest one-month sector level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 3,900), professional and business services (up 2,200), and wholesale trade (up 700).   

Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 68,859 people in April, a decrease of 5,829 over the previous month. Decreases in paid claims in construction, agriculture, and administrative support, and waste management services contributed to the decrease. 

Learn more about Employment Security's monthly employment reports 

Every month, the Employment Security Department publishes preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates for the previous month’s job changes and unemployment. The agency also publishes confirmed data for the month before last. Find the entire Monthly Employment Report, publication schedule, and more labor market information and tools on the Employment Security website.  

March 2025 revisions 

• The estimated loss of 5,200 jobs was revised to a loss of 500 jobs. 
• The seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate remained at 4.4%. 

National unemployment rate 

The national unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% from March 2025 to April 2025. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for April 2024 was 3.9%. 

Labor force showed little change 

From March 2025 to April 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide increased from 177,160 to 179,187. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed increased from 98,884 to 101,396 during the same period. 

The state’s labor force in April was 4,051,983 – a decrease of 5,739 people from the previous month. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 2,435 people during the same period. 

Labor force is defined as the number of employed and unemployed people over the age of 16. Layoffs and labor force participation are not necessarily connected. When people are laid off but still seeking work, they remain a part of the labor force. A drop in the labor force means people have left work and haven't been seeking employment for more than four weeks. 

Seven major industry sectors expanded, six contracted over the year 

Private sector employment decreased by 3,000 jobs from April 2024 to April 2025. Government employment increased by 4,200 during the same time. 

The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 11,800 jobs); professional and business services (up 3,400); and transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 3,100).

• Education and health services employment gains were primarily attributable to hiring in health and social services. Within that sector, social assistance added the most jobs (4,900). 
• The deepest one-year sector losses were in manufacturing (down 7,200) and construction (down 6,000).
• Losses in manufacturing were mostly among aerospace products and parts manufacturing (down 4,500). However, losses occurred throughout the sector.  

Annual employment growth appears in public and private industries 

Washington gained an estimated 1,200 jobs from April 2024 to April 2025 (not seasonally adjusted). During that time, private sector employment decreased by 0.1%, or 3,000 jobs. Public sector employment grew 0.7%, increasing by an estimated 4,200 jobs. 

The two private industry sectors with the largest employment gains compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted) were: 

• Education and health services, up 11,800 jobs. 
• Professional and business services, up 3,400 jobs. 

Manufacturing showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 7,200.

Table 1: Washington's total jobs (12-month overview) 

*Revised from previous preliminary estimates. Preliminary monthly estimates for job losses or gains are based on a small Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll survey. Actual figures reported the following month are based on a more complete survey.

Table 2: April job gains and losses by industry