OLYMPIA, Wash.-While Washington’s economy added jobs in October, the unemployment rate also rose, according to the latest numbers from the Employment Security Department.
An estimated 7,900 jobs were added to the state economy in October, however, unemployment still rose slightly, from 3.6 percent to 3.8 percent. According to the ESD, Washington’s unemployment rate is still below the national average of 3.9 percent.
“Jobs grew at a faster pace than what was observed over the previous three months,” said Employment Security Department (ESD) Chief Labor Economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman. “The demand for workers remains elevated, and the trend toward more modest job growth continued.”
Washington gained 59, 100 jobs between October of 2022 and October 2023, according to the ESD’s latest jobs report. Government, education and health services saw the largest increase in jobs over the past year.