Washington’s unemployment rate rose to 9.4 percent in May, tying the U.S. unemployment rate, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The state’s employers eliminated another 6,700 nonfarm jobs, which contributed to the increase in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from April’s revised rate of 9 percent.

“The economic numbers are volatile right now, and at times contradictory,” said Dr. Greg Weeks, who heads Employment Security’s labor-market information office. “The recession has been deep and wide, and we’re likely to see ups and downs for awhile.”

The largest monthly declines were in construction, which lost 3,100 jobs; information, down 1,300; financial activities, down 1,100; and government, down 1,200 jobs.

The industry sector with a significant increase was leisure and hospitality, which added 1,600 jobs.

The state lost 116,000 jobs from May 2008 to May 2009, a 3.9 percent decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 3.9 percent over the past year.

An estimated 327,430 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in May, with about 215,218 receiving unemployment benefits.

Laid-off workers can apply for unemployment benefits online at esd.wa.gov or call 800-318-6022.

In addition to training programs, unemployed workers can get help looking for work at Employment Security’s affiliated WorkSource offices across the state, where a variety of employment services are offered, including free help with interviewing skills or résumés and with job referrals. WorkSource offices are listed online at www.go2worksource.com. In addition, more than 14,000 current job openings are posted at www.go2worksource.com.

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Full report – www.workforceexplorer.com/cgi/dataanalysis/?PAGEID=148

Regional economists – www.workforceexplorer.com/Article.asp?ARTICLEID=1688

Employment Security Web site – www.esd.wa.gov

WorkSource Web site – www.go2worksource.com.

Numbers & Trends online tool – https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/lmea/countydashboard/