WASHINGTON'S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Seattle Job Blog

Unemployment is Down, But so is Employment. What's Up?

 

Here's a statement from the state's Employment Security department that tries to explain the confliction news.

OLYMPIA – December’s labor statistics from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics once again produced conflicting data about what’s happening in Washington’s economy.

According to the bureau’s monthly survey of Washington households, the estimated unemployment rate dropped from 8.7 percent in November to 8.5 percent in December. This was the lowest since February 2009, when the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent.  More

Unemployment
Submitted by leslie.helm on Monday, January 23

Microsoft To Restructure Marketing Department

Software giant expected to announce effort to improve marketing performance. Restructures Marketing Department
by: 
Finnian Durkan

Recently appointed Chief Marketing Officer Chris Capossela is restructuring Microsot's marketing operations in hopes of making the company leaner and meaner, according to Bloomberg News. Marketing staff with technical skills will be moved to engineering groups while as many as several hundred staff could be cut.More

Microsoft
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Thursday, January 12

Northeastern University…in the Northwest?

Boston institute of higher education announces Seattle campus among expansion plans
by: 
Sarah Dewey

In a departure from the recent trend of proposed international satellite campuses for American institutes of higher education—Yale in Singapore; New York University in Abu Dhabi; and Duke in Kunshan, China—Boston’s Northeastern University has decided to open several satellite campuses domestically.More

Education
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Wednesday, November 2

State unemployment unchanged for August but down slightly from year before.

by: 
Steve Wehrly


State unemployment rate remained 9.3 percent in August, on a preliminary basis, unchanged from July, but down slightly from 9.4 percent in August 2010, acccording to the  Employment Security Department. Although private sector jobs grew by 4200, public sectors jobs decreases by 400, leaving 321,300
workers unemployed in the state.More

Unemployment
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Tuesday, September 20

Seattle workers earn 23 percent more than national average, labor department says


New
BLS Data: Seattle workers earn 23% more than national average<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />More

Job Hunting
Submitted by leslie.helm on Wednesday, September 7

Job Growth Continues, But Unemployment Remains HIgh

July's estimated gain of 5,700 jobs not enough to decrease state unemployment rate
by: 
Sarah Dewey

July marked another month of job growth for the state of Washington. Based on preliminary estimates, 5,700 jobs were added this month, making July the 11th consecutive month of job growth for the state, according to the July 2011 Employment Situation Report from the state’s Employment Security Division.More

Who's Hiring
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Wednesday, August 17

Small Business Scorecard reports drop in Seattle payroll

by: 
Leslie Helm

 

SurePayroll's Small Business Scorecard hiring index for Seattle, which is based on the number of people on the payroll of its 33,000 small business clients  (average 7 employees) fell by 5.2 percent  in July from the month before while the average paycheck size rose by 0.8 percent. Nationally, employment fell 2.4 percent while paycheck size rose 0.3 percent. More

Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Wednesday, August 10

In spite of high unemployment, some jobs are in high demand.

by: 
Leslie Helm

New figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that despite the generally high unemployment rate, attracting and hiring top talent for some positions remains challenging for employers, according to Robert Half International. 

 More

Unemployment
Submitted by leslie.helm on Thursday, July 28

Washington State added 3,600 jobs in June

The good news is that this means 10 consecutive months of job growth
by: 
Aaron Alan Tilley

 

Washington State added 3,600 jobs in June from the month before, reflecting 10 consecutive months of job growth, according to the Washington State Employment Security Division. The new numbers include a revision to last month’s report to show that the state had added 2,500 jobs in May, instead of the originally reported loss of 700 jobs.More

Job Hunting
Unemployment
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Wednesday, July 20

Strong Teen Jobs Market May Signal Recovery

Summer jobs for teens shot up 44 percent in June from the year before according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas
by: 
Leslie Helm

 More

Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Monday, July 18

Washington state’s annual wages are up but the news isn't good

by: 
Aaron Alan Tilley


Washington State’s average annual wage jumped up by 2.1 percent in 2010, but the news isn't necessarily good. The wage rates may have climbed because employers eliminated more lower-wage jobs than higher-wage jobs. Another possible explanation could be a decision by employers to add more work hours to part-time employees rather than hiring new workers. The average annual wage now stands at $48,162, which means a weekly wage of $926.

More

Job Hunting
Unemployment
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Thursday, June 23

Employment falls after eight months of growth

by: 
Sarah Dewey

Washington
state lost about
700 jobs from April to May of this year—the first drop since last August—yet
the state’s adjusted unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent in May, from April’s
9.2 percent, the Washington State Employment Security Division said. Unemployment
in the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett area fell to 8.6 percent in May, from 8.7 percent in
April.More

Job Hunting
Unemployment
Submitted by Guest Columnist on Wednesday, June 15

Washington's IT Departments have Hiring Plans for Q3

by: 
Leslie Helm

A net six percent of CIOs in the Pacific region plan to hire IT staff in the third quarter, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index & Skills Report. This is two points above the national average.More

Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Friday, June 10

Washington Adds 5800 Jobs in April

State shows strength in Construction, Food Services, Computer Design and Manufcturing
by: 
Leslie Helm

In spite of high gas prices that likely contributed to employment declines in Washington's recreation and accommodations sectors, the state managed to add 5800 new jobs in April, pushing unemployment down to 9.1 percent, from 9.2 percent the month before.

"We've probably seen less driving as a result of higher gas prices," said Dave Wallace, acting chief economist at the Washingon state Employment Security Department. He said less driving may have hurt tourism-related business such as hotels and wine tasting rooms.More

Unemployment
Who's Firing
Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Wednesday, May 18

Washingtonians Remain Anxious About Job Security

Evergreen College survey finds one-third of workers afraid of getting fired.
by: 
Leslie Helm

Check out this press release:More

Unemployment
Who's Firing
Submitted by leslie.helm on Wednesday, May 11

Check Out Start-up Jobs at Seattle 2.0

http://www.seattle20.com/jobs/
by: 
Leslie Helm
Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Wednesday, May 4

Cardiac Science plans 54 layoffs in Bothell

by: 
Leslie Helm

Cardiac Science plans 54 layoffs in Bothell

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/mobile/?type=story&id=2014937...

Who's Firing
Submitted by leslie.helm on Monday, May 2

Zynga, Social Gaming Leader, Establishes Post in Seattle to Hire Talent

Zynga, which made its name with games like FarmVille, is setting up shop in Pioneer Square with plans to tap the region's gaming talent.
by: 
Leslie Helm

Check out Brier Dudley's story on Zyga's effort in Seattle.

Who's Hiring
Submitted by leslie.helm on Thursday, April 14