Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Down To 7 Percent In Washington State

Tom Banse — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:57:42 +0000

The unemployment rate in Washington state is down to a flat 7 percent. That news from the state employment department Wednesday. The agency recorded a drop in the jobless rate of 0.1 percent in April.

State labor economist Scott Bailey says that puts Washington's rate at the lowest it's been since the end of 2008.

Federal Sequester Turns Employment Workers Into Job Seekers

Jessica Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:58:09 +0000

In the next couple of months, many employment office workers in the Northwest will join the unemployed. State labor agencies are having to make cutbacks in staffing. It's due to a combination of the economy getting better and federal budget cuts known as the “sequester” setting in.

Staffing at the local employment office usually moves in the exact opposite direction as the rest of the economy.

Washington's Jobless Rate Dips To Four Year Low

Tom Banse — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:04:08 +0000

The unemployment rate in the state of Washington is falling again after being stuck in holding pattern for three months. The state Employment Security Department Wednesday pegged the jobless rate at 7.3 percent. That number for March is down .2 percent from February's rate.

State labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman says Washington's unemployment rate is at its lowest point in more than four years.

"The unemployment rate has been declining; it peaked in Dec.

Washington Jobs Return To Expected Numbers In February

Alexandra Kocik — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:02:54 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington state saw a surge of new jobs in January, but job growth was sluggish in February.

Oregon Is Adding Jobs

Angela Kellner — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:25:59 +0000

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February remains unchanged at 8.4 percent. A number of sectors are seeing growth.

Washington Records Unusually Strong Job Gains In January

Tom Banse — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:01:16 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The state of Washington recorded unusually strong job gains in January. That's according to new numbers released Wednesday by the state Employment Department. A regular survey of businesses found more than 24,000 new jobs created.

The state's chief labor economist, Joe Elling, says there's evidence of gathering "momentum" in the economy.

Unemployment Benefits To Expire

Paula Wissel — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:12:42 +0000

Extended unemployment benefits are going away for 60,000 Washington residents. A federal program put in place to help jobless workers weather the recession expires at the end of the year.

Wash. Sees Healthy Drop In Unemployment

Tom Banse — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:29:02 +0000

Washington state saw a nice drop in unemployment during October. New numbers released Thursday show the state jobless rate fell to 8.2 percent. That's down three-tenths of a point from the prior month.

Oregon's Unemployment Rate Virtually Unchanged In September

David Nogueras — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:49:37 +0000

New data released Tuesday by the Oregon Employment Department show the state's unemployment rate held steady in September, coming in at a seasonally adjusted 8.7 percent. Economists blame the results on weaker than expected seasonal job growth.

Ebbing Community College Enrollment A Promising Sign For Economy

Jessica Robinson — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:16:28 +0000

The latest community college enrollment numbers may hold a clue to what’s happening in the Northwest’s economy. Some two-year institutions in the region are seeing the first decline in class registration since the recession. Correspondent Jessica Robinson has more.