Washington State’s economy gained an estimated 5,400 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in October. The Employment Security Department says the monthly unemployment rate rose slightly from 3.7% to 3.8%.
Local unemployment information will be available next week. In September, Asotin County’s unemployment rate was at 2.9%; Whitman County’s was 3.5%; Garfield County’s unemployment rate was 4.2%; and Columbia County’s was 3.9%.
Asotin County’s employment profile: https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/county-profiles/asotin
Job growth was highest in the industries of leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, education and health services, government, transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Collectively, these industries gained 10,800 jobs. Job loss was highest in the information industry, which lost 5,900 jobs.
“October’s rise in payroll employment is positive news, even as employment growth begins to moderate,” the Department’s State Economist Paul Turek says. “The demand for workers has been resilient. “
Visit ESD’s website to view the entire Monthly Employment Report for October: https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/monthly-employment-report
