State job growth paused in May; unemployment rate estimated at 9.1

Published 10:24 am Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Following eight straight months of job growth, Washington employment dipped by an estimated 700 jobs in May.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 9.1 percent, down slightly from April’s revised rate of 9.2 percent.

Industries that posted gains in May were leisure and hospitality, up 3,200; professional and business services, up 900; construction, up 700; and government, up 200.

Jobs were lost in wholesale trade, down 2,100; retail trade, down 1,600; financial activities, down 900; transportation, warehousing and utilities, down 600; education and health services, down 300; and manufacturing, down 200.

Even with last month’s job losses, the state economy has added an estimated 52,400 jobs since the low point of the recession.

An estimated 306,919 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in May, and 208,582 people received unemployment benefits from Washington.

Employment Security is a partner in the statewide WorkSource system, which offers a variety of employment and training services for job seekers, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés and job referrals. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.

Locations of local WorkSource offices are listed online at www.go2worksource.com and in the blue pages of local telephone books.

In addition, more than 26,000 job openings are posted online at www.go2worksource.com.