Washington’s economy added 9,100 jobs in August and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.
The jobless rate was down slightly from a month ago, and is the lowest rate for August since 1976.
The state’s labor force in August was 3.76 million, an increase of 2,800 people from the previous month.
The greatest private job growth in professional and business services; construction; and leisure and hospitality. Other sectors adding jobs were information; wholesale trade; education and health services; transportation, warehousing and utilities; financial activities; and other services.
The number of jobs in the mining and logging sector remained constant, while retail trade experienced the biggest reduction, followed by government; and jobs and manufacturing.
Year-over-year growth maintained its strong trend, with Washington adding an estimated 109,400 new jobs from August 2017 through August 2018. (Employment Security Department)
