Washington state’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.3 percent in August to 5.2 percent in September, according to estimates by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The drop comes despite a loss of 2,200 jobs in September.
The September Monthly Employment Report from the state Employment Security Department (ESD) revised August’s preliminary gain of 1,600 jobs to a gain of 5,200 jobs, but estimates Washington lost 2,200 private sector jobs from August 2015 to September 2015, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
“Hiring across the state took a step backward in September, although forward momentum is still being sustained,” said Paul Turek, labor economist with ESD, in a press release. “Some adjustments in hiring appear to be occurring as employers start transitioning to the holiday season, and some may be due to new challenges presented by global economic conditions.”
The professional and business services industry experienced the greatest losses with a reduction of 3,900 jobs. The construction and financial activities industries also saw losses of 800 jobs each.
Industries that experienced job gains during the month of September were wholesale trade (+1,100 jobs) and other services (+2,300 jobs).
Year-over-year, the BLS estimates Washington gained 81,700 jobs from September 2014 to September 2015, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, with 71,900 new jobs in the private sector and 9,800 new jobs in the public sector.
The top three industry sectors with the largest employment gains over the past 12 months, not seasonally adjusted, were:
- Retail trade with 14,500 new jobs;
- Professional and business services with 14,100 new jobs;
- Leisure and hospitality with 11,700 new jobs;