Washington's unemployment rate was static at 8.3% for June 2012. The unemployment rate has fluctuated during 2012, and is now and is only 0.1% below the January 2012 rate of 8.4%. If For the month, there were about 1,000 more unemployed individuals in WA in the June when compared to July. This, however, was countered by a subsequent 3,700 person rise in the number of people employed. There was also a 4,700 person increase in the total civilian labor force in June in WA. The net effect of these numbers was the flat unemployment rate for June in WA.
The good news is that Washington's unemployment rate is both better than the national average (8.2%) and much better from June 2011 when the rate was at 9.3%. The full percentage decrease in the unemployment rate in WA meant 30,000 fewer unemployed individuals and 79,000 more employed people in Washington. Additionally, there were roughly 48,000 more people in the civilian work force for the state. The net impact of these numbers is the big drop in the unemployment rate in Washington for the year.
Next we'll review the numbers for the industries in Washington in June. For the month the industries of Manufacturing, Construction, Information, Financial Activities, and Leisure & Hospitality all experienced improvements for the month. Industries that saw a decease in employment numbers in June were Education & Health Services, Other Services, and Government.
Next we'll look at the employment statistics for several of the major metropolitan areas in a state. For Washington State these results were largely positive in June. The City of Bellingham's June unemployment rate dropped to 7.5%. The Bremerton-Silverdale area also lowered it's rate to 7.5%. The Olympia metro area also saw a rate decrease from 7.9% to 7.7% in June. The City of Longview's rate, one of the highest in the state, also came down to 11.0% from 11.2% in May's. Finally, the City of Yakima experienced one of the biggest rate improvements in June falling 1.3% from 10.6% in May all the way to 9.3%. The big exception to this downward trend in June was the metropolitan area of Seattle-Bellevue. Its unemployment rate rose in June to 7.5% (from May's 7.1%.
The State of Washington's unemployment rate continues to be about average when we compare it to other neighboring states in the region. States with higher rates include Oregon (8.5%) and California (10.7%). Area states with lower rates that WA include Idaho (6.3%) and Montana (also at 6.3%).
Later this Summer the July 2012 employment statistics for the State of Washington will be released. Please come back when we analyze those numbers for Washington. Always be aware that employment numbers can be adjusted at a later time.
The good news is that Washington's unemployment rate is both better than the national average (8.2%) and much better from June 2011 when the rate was at 9.3%. The full percentage decrease in the unemployment rate in WA meant 30,000 fewer unemployed individuals and 79,000 more employed people in Washington. Additionally, there were roughly 48,000 more people in the civilian work force for the state. The net impact of these numbers is the big drop in the unemployment rate in Washington for the year.
Next we'll review the numbers for the industries in Washington in June. For the month the industries of Manufacturing, Construction, Information, Financial Activities, and Leisure & Hospitality all experienced improvements for the month. Industries that saw a decease in employment numbers in June were Education & Health Services, Other Services, and Government.
Next we'll look at the employment statistics for several of the major metropolitan areas in a state. For Washington State these results were largely positive in June. The City of Bellingham's June unemployment rate dropped to 7.5%. The Bremerton-Silverdale area also lowered it's rate to 7.5%. The Olympia metro area also saw a rate decrease from 7.9% to 7.7% in June. The City of Longview's rate, one of the highest in the state, also came down to 11.0% from 11.2% in May's. Finally, the City of Yakima experienced one of the biggest rate improvements in June falling 1.3% from 10.6% in May all the way to 9.3%. The big exception to this downward trend in June was the metropolitan area of Seattle-Bellevue. Its unemployment rate rose in June to 7.5% (from May's 7.1%.
The State of Washington's unemployment rate continues to be about average when we compare it to other neighboring states in the region. States with higher rates include Oregon (8.5%) and California (10.7%). Area states with lower rates that WA include Idaho (6.3%) and Montana (also at 6.3%).
Later this Summer the July 2012 employment statistics for the State of Washington will be released. Please come back when we analyze those numbers for Washington. Always be aware that employment numbers can be adjusted at a later time.
