Washington’s economy added an estimated 11,800 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in December, and the monthly unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.5%.
According to a news release from the Washington Employment Security Department, in the past 12 months, the state added 30,600 jobs — a 0.9% increase.
Private sector employment is estimated to have increased by 12,000 and government employment decreased by 200 in December. The largest one-month sector level gains in private industry were in construction, up 4,000, and leisure and hospitality, up 2,900.
The unemployment rate hovered from 4.5% to 4.9% during each month of 2024. For comparison, the unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in December 2023.
Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 70,120 people in December, an increase of 7,444 over the previous month. Increases in paid claims in construction, agriculture, and administrative support and waste management remediation services contributed to the increase.
