Washington’s economy added 5,100 jobs in November and the state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent.
According to the Employment Security Department, the pace of hiring softened some in November, but the overall job situation remains relatively strong. The state’s labor force in November was 3.79- million – an increase of more than 14,000 people from the previous month.
The labor force is the total number of people, both employed and unemployed, over the age of 16.
November’s greatest private job growth occurred in manufacturing, followed by transportation, warehousing, and utilities; leisure and hospitality; education and health services; professional and business services; and other services.
Wholesale trade was unchanged, while job losses were reported in retail trade; construction; financial activities; mining and logging; and information. (Employment Security Department)