State Creates New Jobs But Unemployment Still Rises

By Seattle Business Magazine April 13, 2011

Although Washington state added a seasonally adjusted 1,100 jobs in March, the unemployment rate nevertheless climbed from 9.1 percent to 9.2 percent as more people joined the workforce, according to an estimate by the state Employment Security Department.

Showing the strongest growth were Professional and Business Services, which were up 2,700; Wholesale Trade, which was up 1,900; and Manufacturing, which was up 1,600. Financial activities which have long been a troubled sector, added 1,300 jobs.

The state has added 33,100 jobs since March 2010, including 23,000 in the Professional and Business Services sector, 6,800 in Education and Health Services and 4,800 in manufacturing.

Were picking up a little steam, said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause. The consistent job growth were starting to see now is really encouraging.

An estimated 340,325 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work, and 228,911 people received unemployment benefits from Washington in March.

Still suffering, is the construction sector, which has lost 6,900 jobs in the state since last March, and the Government sector, which has lost 4,400 jobs.

While unemployment rose statewide, it fell slightly in Seattle, dropping to 8.6 percent in March, down from 8.7 percent in February. The national unemployment rate, which fell to 8.8 percent in March from 8.9 percent the month before.

Follow Us