Washington adds jobs for 10th straight month
Published 10:34 am Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Washington’s economy has posted net job gains for 10 months in a row, including an estimated increase of 3,600 jobs in June.
The job-growth streak was extended after economists revised May’s preliminary report to reflect a gain of 2,500 jobs, rather than the initial estimate showing job losses.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly from 9.1 percent in May to 9.2 percent in June.
Industries that posted gains in June were “other services,” up 3,700; manufacturing, up 1,300 (mostly aerospace); transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 1,300; professional and business services, up 1,200; wholesale trade, up 1,200; retail trade, up 900; information, up 700; and leisure and hospitality, up 200.
Jobs were lost in government, down 3,000; construction, down 1,800; financial activities, down 1,100; and education and health services, down 1,000.
“Our state had a surprisingly solid month, compared to the disappointing national employment situation for June,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause. “So far, our state has regained more than a quarter of the jobs we lost during the recession.”
Since the low point of the recession, the state has added an estimated 59,200 jobs, up from a recession loss of about 206,000.
An estimated 322,594 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in June, and 194,759 of them received unemployment benefits.
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 23,000 job openings are posted online at www.go2worksource.com.
