Washington unemployment dips to 5.3 percent; 3,900 jobs added

Employers in Washington added 3,900 jobs from May to June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week.

Between June 2014 and June 2015, employers have added 114,700 jobs, including 100,900 in the private sector and 13,800 in the public sector, the bureau said.

The latest statewide figures indicate a June unemployment rate of 5.3 percent, matching the June figure nationwide. The revised figure for May in Washington now stands at 5.4 percent, still well below the figure for June 2014, at 6.1 percent.

Among other data released this week:

▪  The unemployment rate in the Seattle area fell to 3.9 percent in June, down from 4.1 percent in May and 4.7 percent in June 2014.

▪  For perspective statewide, the unemployment rate — now 5.3 percent — stood at 4.6 percent at the beginning of the employment recession in February 2008, and at 10.2 percent at the end of the recession in February 2010.

▪  187,300 persons were unemployed in Washington in June, down from 190,900 in May.

▪  Among the 3,900 jobs added from May to June, the professional and business services sector added 1,700 jobs; transportation, warehousing and utilities added 1,700; retail trade added 1,600, as did education and health services; government added 1,300 jobs; mining and logging lost 100 jobs; financial activities lost 1,300, as did construction; and wholesale trade dropped 2,600.

▪  Between June 2014 and June 2015, the construction sector has added 17,700 jobs in the state; professional and businesses have added 20,800; retail trade has added 14,500; government has added 13,800 and leisure and hospitality added 10,000. Mining and logging operations have shed 300 workers over the year.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 4:32 AM with the headline "Washington unemployment dips to 5.3 percent; 3,900 jobs added."