Washington’s economy added more than 6,100 jobs in December and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate came in at 4.5 percent.
The state Employment Security Department released the preliminary job estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics as part of its December Monthly Employment Report.
The department also announced that November’s previously announced unemployment rate of 4.5 percent was revised downward to 4.4 percent – a new low for unemployment in Washington.
The national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in December. From December 2016 through December 2017, the state’s labor force grew by 86,000.
Private sector employment increased by 2,000 and government employment increased by 4,100 jobs in December. The greatest private job growth occurred in leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and construction. Other sectors adding jobs were information, education and health services, financial services, and transportation, warehousing and utilities.
Professional and business services faced the biggest reduction in December. Washington added an estimated 95,500 new jobs from December 2016 through December 2017.
The private sector grew by 3.1 percent or 84,100 jobs, and the public sector increased by 2 percent, adding 11,400 jobs.
(Washington Employment Security Department)
