Workplace
State unemployment rate improves to 9 percent
By Seattle Business Magazine November 17, 2011
An estimated 4,600 jobs were added in Washington in October, lowering the unemployment rate to 9.0 percent — the lowest since the 9.2 percent rate recorded in March 2009, according to Dave Wallace, an economist for the Washington Department of Employment Security. Wallace called job growth in the state slow, steady improvement … consistent with what weve seen for more than a year.
Public sector job growth totaled 4,900 jobs in October, including 2,900 local government and 1,500 federal government jobs. Net private sector jobs fell by 300.
September unemployment numbers were revised to 9.2 percent from 9.1 percent; the previous estimated number of jobs lost number went to 10,700 from the previous estimate of 18,400.
An estimated 364,698 people were looking for work in October, and 176,390 of those collected approximately $255 million in unemployment benefits. Some 64,550 Washington workers have exhausted all unemployment benefits, according to Employment Security.