Washington state unemployment rate drops to 4.7% in October despite job losses [Video]

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington’s economy saw a significant dip in October, losing an estimated 35,900 jobs, yet the state’s unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.7%.

“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.”

Aerospace employment alone dropped by 31,000 jobs last month, contributing heavily to the overall decline. Despite these setbacks, the state’s unemployment rate only fell slightly, continuing a trend of hovering between 4.7% and 4.9% since March 2024. By comparison, the unemployment rate in October 2023 was 3.8%.

Job losses in October were most pronounced in the manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and other services sectors. On the other hand, government, education and health services, and information industries saw the largest gains during the same period.

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