Washington’s jobless rate dropped from to 4-and-a-half percent in May, establishing a new record low for unemployment.
According to the state Employment Security Department, the rate is the lowest since comparable record-keeping began in 1976. Washington added 2-thousand nonfarm jobs in May to help lower the rate by a tenth of one percent, which was more than a full percentage point below the 5-point-6 percent rate in May 2016.
The greatest job growth occurred in leisure and hospitality, and education and health services, followed by financial activities; professional and business services; and manufacturing.
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities faced the biggest reduction in May, followed by wholesale trade; government; construction; and information.
Mining and logging, other services, and retail trade were unchanged. (Washington Employment Security Department)
