Here is an update after water damage shuts down Tacoma WorkSource office
Story has been updated with further optional service location details as of May 28.
A Tacoma employment office was the apparent target of vandalism and has been closed until further notice, according to state officials and local law enforcement.
The state’s Employment Security Department, who is the leaseholder for the WorkSource Pierce office at 2121 S. State St., announced Tuesday afternoon in a release that the office would “remain closed until further notice” because of water damage in the building.
“WorkSource employees are developing a plan to ensure customers can access employment services at other nearby locations and online. Once finalized, details will be posted on the WorkSource Pierce website,” it added.
Other locations are listed on the WorkSource website.
Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Officer Shelbie Boyd, in response to questions from The News Tribune, said that police were dispatched just before 10:30 p.m. May 19 to the office site.
An exterior door apparently was broken, and a water valve on the third floor opened, flooding the office.
Ann Hartman, an official with ESD, told The News Tribune in response to questions, “The carpets were heavily damaged and water came from one of the upper floors.”
Boyd said via email that one person was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary and four counts of malicious mischief.
On May 28, WorkSource said the Tacoma office would remain closed as the offices had been “significantly impacted” by the water damage.
“While this incident was identified as an act of vandalism, WorkSource was not the target,” it said in a release.
For now, in-person services are available at the Goodwill Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma and the WorkSource South Hill Mall location (inside mall at entrance of Golden Corral) in Puyallup, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The Resource Room at the Goodwill Milgard Work Opportunity Center also is available to support Tacoma-area customers needing access to computers, printers and in-person services.
Employment Security Department staff is conducting in-person Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Initial and RESEA Follow-Up Appointments at Goodwill.
WorkSource is a partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that provide employment and training services to job seekers and businesses.
A News Tribune profile in spring 2019 covered an open house hosted by WorkSource showing off its new space at the site as it combined offices with partner agencies.
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
