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State unemployment rate holds steady at 5.6 percent for August

9/17/2014

14-053

OLYMPIA – Washington’s unemployment rate remains steady at 5.6 percent for August 2014, according to preliminary, seasonally adjusted estimates released today by state Employment Security Department -- 0.5 percent lower than the rest of the country and 1.4 percent lower than in August 2013.

According to preliminary estimates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released today, nonfarm, seasonally adjusted employment dropped by 1,500 from July 2014 to August 2014 with the private sector adding 200 jobs but the public sector losing 1,700 jobs.

Unemployment in the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett area ticked up slightly, increasing from 4.7 percent in July to 4.8 percent in August. The national unemployment rate dropped slightly to 6.1 percent in August. 

“While Washington experienced a slight dip in employment from July to August, the unemployment rate is holding steady and our economy is improving,” said Paul Turek, an economist with the Employment Security Department.  “Year-over-year, Washington continues to add jobs with growth in every major industry.”

From August 2013 to August 2014, Employment Security estimates Washington added 82,700 jobs, including 77,500 jobs in the private sector and 5,200 in the public sector (not seasonally adjusted).  

Year-over-year, Washington saw growth in every industry from August 2013 to August 2014. 

Industry sectors with the largest employment gains from August 2013 to August 2014 were:

  • Education and health services with an increase of 15,500 jobs; 
  • Leisure and hospitality with an increase of 13,800 jobs; 
  • Retail trade with an increase of 12,700 jobs; 
  • Construction with 10,400 new jobs; and 
  • Professional and business services with 10,300 new jobs. 

Washington’s resident labor force, the total number of people in the workforce, employed and unemployed, ages 16 and older, increased by 1,700 to 3,470,700 in August 2014. 

The number of unemployed, the estimated number of people who do not have jobs, are available for work and have actively sought work in the last four weeks, increased by 200 to 195,700 in August 2014. That includes 62,000 who received unemployment insurance benefits in August.

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Washington’s unemployment rate held steady at five-point-six percent in August—still lower than the national average and one-point-four percent lower than in August 2013.

With the public sector shedding 1,700 jobs from July to August and the private sector adding only 200, Washington lost a total of 1,500 jobs from July to August 2014.

Despite this, Washington’s year-over-year job growth remains high with 82,700 more jobs in August 2014 than in August 2013 and growth in every major industry.
Economists for the Washington Employment Security Department say Washington’s economy continues to improve.

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