OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy saw a decrease of 1,100 jobs in January 2025, but the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.3%, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
However, Boeing’s 2,595 layoffs, which began on January 17, 2025, are not expected to appear in employment numbers until February’s report. Similarly, federal layoff figures will likely emerge in March’s data, ESD said in a release.
Anneliese Vance-Sherman, Chief Labor Economist at the Employment Security Department, said the state’s unemployment rate has been gradually declining from a high of 4.6% in May 2024.
“Washington’s labor market is still relatively strong, but growth has slowed over the past several months,” Vance-Sherman said.
In the past year, Washington added 68,000 jobs, marking a 2.9% increase. However, January saw nonfarm employment decrease by 1,100, with government employment dropping by 700. The construction sector experienced a notable gain of 4,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality added 2,900 positions.
Unemployment benefits were paid to 82,365 people in January, an increase of 12,245 from the previous month. The rise in claims was largely due to increases in construction, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services sectors.
For more detailed employment data and trends, visit the Employment Security Department’s website.
