Washington’s economy gained more than 12,000 jobs in November as the state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.4 percent.
The Employment Security Department says the November data are an encouraging sign that the state’s labor market is still doing well. October’s jobless rate was 4.5 percent.
The state’s labor force in November was 3.94 million – an increase of 21,000 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 largest private job growth occurred in education and health services, followed by leisure and hospitality; construction; professional and business services; government; and wholesale trade. Also posting increases were other services; mining and logging; and manufacturing.
The three industry sectors posted losses – retail trade; information; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities.
Financial activities was the only industry sector that remained unchanged. (WA Employment Security Department)
