Despite adding 3,800 jobs in August – the 12th consecutive month of job growth in Washington state – the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate didn’t budge from 9.3 percent, according to data released Wednesday by the state Employment Security Department.
The manufacturing sector led the way last month, followed by education and health services. Industries that shed jobs include financial activities, down 2,400; wholesale trade, down 1,600; and leisure and hospitality, which fell by 1,300 positions.
“How many ways can you say slow, steady progress?” said Dave Wallace, the acting chief economist for Employment Security.
“At some point, there will be a tipping point where the constant job growth starts eroding the unemployment rate.”
Although the state added nearly 4,000 jobs last month, Wallace has said the state needs to create about 6,000 jobs a month for a year to lower the unemployment rate by 1 percent.
Meanwhile, an estimated 309,984 people in Washington were unemployed and looking for work last month, and 177,751 of them received $234 million in unemployment benefits. As of Sept. 3, 62,986 workers in Washington had run out of all jobless benefits.
Pierce and Thurston County jobless rates will be released Tuesday.
In July, Pierce County’s jobless rate was 9.6 percent and Thurston County had an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403 rboone@theolympian.com
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