News releases

The Employment Security Department will continue its adjusted unemployment benefits call center hours after a 90-day pilot showed promising results of paying customers more quickly and answering more phone calls.

The Employment Security Department was awarded a $1 million disaster recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to help workers living in Washington who were affected by December’s severe weather and record flooding.

County unemployment rates and employment data for December 2025 are now available on the Employment Security Department website. Visit the labor force page to view historic and current data on the unemployment rate.  

Washington’s economy increased by an estimated 9,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in December 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.7% from 4.6% in November.

Employment Security Department’s Commissioner Cami Feek, Chief of Staff Dan Zeitlin and Government Relations Director Josh Dye spoke about the agency’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program and answered questions during a state Senate Labor & Commerce Committee hearing on Jan. 16.

County unemployment rates and employment data for November 2025 are now available on the Employment Security Department website. Visit the labor force page to view historic and current data on the unemployment rate.

Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 1,500 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in November 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.6%.

County unemployment rates and employment data for September 2025 are now available on the Employment Security Department website. Visit the labor force page to view historic and current data on the unemployment rate.

Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 14,500 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in September 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate remained at 4.5%.

WorkSource Rainier in Seattle will temporarily close for remodeling on Dec. 4. It’s scheduled to reopen on Dec. 22.