Washington state gained 13,800 jobs during September with an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent, according to numbers released by the state Bureau of Labor Statistics.
From last September, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.3 percent. The September 2017 rate remains the same as the August 2017 rate at 4.6 percent. The rate is not seasonally adjusted.
The bureau releases the state and Seattle area reports each month before releasing county numbers. The September unemployment rate for the counties will be released on Oct. 24.
In August 2017, the unemployment rate in Lewis County was 6.1 percent, in Thurston County it was 4.6 percent, in Pacific County it was 6.2 percent and in Cowlitz County it was 5.6 percent.
“Washington’s economy is in great shape,” said Paul Turek, economist for the department in a press release. “Businesses continue to add jobs and more people are joining the labor force.”
In addition to the 13,800 jobs added to the economy, the labor force increased by 29,900 people during September, according to information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The labor force is the total number of people, both employed and unemployed, over the age of 16.
From September 2016 to September 2017, the state’s labor force has increased by 91,300 people.
Last month, the Department of Employment Security paid unemployment insurance to 45,929 people across the state.
Employment in the private sector rose by 6,000 jobs and government employment increased by 7,800 jobs during September. The report shows the largest increase in government jobs and the second largest in the leisure and hospitality industry, which added 3,400 jobs. Other large increases include the information industry, which added 900 jobs, retail trade, which added 700 jobs, education and health services, which added 600 jobs, construction, which added 400 jobs, wholesale trade, which added 400 jobs, financial activities, which added 300 jobs, and professional and business services, which added 200 jobs.
Over the course of the year, from September 2016 to September 2017, the three largest areas of growth are government, adding 14,700 jobs, construction, adding 12,700, and education and health services, adding 9,600 jobs.
Statewide, 11 of the 13 industries added jobs over the course of the year; manufacturing lost 3,500 jobs and mining and logging lost 200.
