Washington state’s economy added an estimated 1,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted), and the August unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.8%.

“Washington employers continue to add jobs, with significant variation from one industry to the next,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for the Employment Security Department.

Goods producers, including construction, manufacturing and mining and logging industries, experienced job losses in August. Education and health services led statewide employment growth from July to August, as well as during the past 12 months.

The unemployment rate has hovered at 4.8-4.9% since March 2024.

Clallam County’s unemployment rate for August was 5.8% — tied for sixth-highest among Washington’s 39 counties.

Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 55,452 people in July, a decrease of 1,096 over the previous month.

The national unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% in July to 4.2% in August. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for August 2023 was 3.8%.

Labor force showed little change

From July to August 2024, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased slightly from 196,380 to 194,566. The state’s labor force in August stood at 4,012,527 – a decrease of 4,412 people from the previous month.

Labor force is defined as the total number of people, both employed and unemployed, over the age of 16. Layoffs and labor force participation are not necessarily connected. When people are laid off but still seeking work, they remain a part of the labor force. A drop in the labor force means people have left work and haven’t been actively seeking employment for more than four weeks.

Private sector employment increased by 4,900 jobs from July to August. Government employment decreased by 3,300.

The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 6,100 jobs), professional and business services (up 1,700), and financial activities (up 300 jobs).

The highest one-month gains in education and health services were in educational services and social assistance (up 4,100 jobs).

The largest gains in the professional and business services sector were in administrative services (up 2,200).

Seven sectors saw decreases in employment: government (down 3,300); manufacturing (down 1,000); retail trade (down 800); construction (down 800); information (down 500); other services (down 400); and mining and logging (down 100).