The state’s economy lost an estimated 35,900 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in October while the monthly unemployment rate decreased to 4.7%, according to Washington’s Employment Security Department.

“October shows an unusually high drop in jobs, unlike the relatively small changes over the past several months,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for the Employment Security Department.

“This is largely a reflection of the now-resolved strike by Boeing machinists.”

State officials report Aerospace employment dropped by 31,000 in October.

The manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and other services industries experienced the largest job losses from September to October, while government, education and health services, and information led statewide employment growth.

The unemployment rate has been between 4.7-4.9% since March 2024, whereas the unemployment rate was 3.8% in October 2023.

In September, Washington state’s economy lost an estimated 2,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in September, and the monthly unemployment rate held steady at 4.8%.

The Employment Security Department reports unemployment benefits were paid to 57,057 people in October, an increase of 3,143 over the previous month.

The national unemployment rate remained at 4.1% from September to October, compared to 3.8% (revised) in 2023.

From September to October 2024, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased from 190,150 to 187,951.

Private sector employment decreased by 38,300 jobs from September to October. Government employment increased by 2,400 during that same time.

The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 1,800 jobs), information (up 500) and business services (up 300 jobs).

The highest one-month gains in education and health services were in ambulatory health care services (up 2,600 jobs) and private educational services (up 1,300 jobs).

The deepest one-month sector losses were in manufacturing (down 31,000), reflecting the machinists’ strike at the Boeing Company, state officials report.

Seven sectors saw decreases in employment: manufacturing (down 31,000); leisure and hospitality (down 5,400); other services (down 1,500); transportation, warehousing and utilities (down 1,200); construction (down 800); wholesale trade (down 600); and retail trade (down 400).

Washington gained an estimated 9,100 jobs from October 2023 to October 2024 (not seasonally adjusted). During that time, private sector employment fell by 0.51%, decreasing by 15,200 jobs. Public sector employment grew 4.1%, increasing by an estimated 24,300 jobs.

The two industry sectors with the largest employment gains year over year (not seasonally adjusted) were:

• Education and health services, up 21,200 jobs.

• Transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 3,000 jobs.

The manufacturing sector reported the biggest employment loss year over year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 29,100. Within the sector, aerospace was down an estimated 26,300 jobs.