WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Unemployment now below Dec 2008 rate

Earlier this week, the Employment Security Department (ESD) reported that Washington’s unemployment rate has dropped half a percentage point since January. The 3,800 jobs added last month brings April’s rate down to 7 percent, the lowest point since December 2008, when it was 7.1 percent.

Scott Baily, an ESD economist said the state’s labor market is improving faster than the nation’s.

The sectors with the most job gains were:unemployment

  • Retail trade, up 3,800
  • Leisure and hospitality, up 1,600
  • Professional and business services, up 1,500
  • Other services, up 600
  • Manufacturing, up 400
  • Financial activities, up 300

So far, Washington has regained about 78 percent of the 205,000 jobs lost during the recession. For more information, get April’s employment report here.