Washington Unemployment Holds at 5.2% in June as Tech Losses Keep It Above 4.2% U.S. Rate
Updated
Updated · seattlered.com · Jul 17
Washington Unemployment Holds at 5.2% in June as Tech Losses Keep It Above 4.2% U.S. Rate
3 articles · Updated · seattlered.com · Jul 17
Summary
Washington’s jobless rate stayed at 5.2% in June, unchanged and still a full point above the 4.2% national rate.
5,400 nonfarm jobs were added from May, but 4,000 came from the public sector and economists said tech-sector losses remained the main drag.
From June 2025 to June 2026, the state lost 1,200 jobs overall as 5,100 public-sector positions disappeared, partly offset by 3,900 private-sector gains.
Hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing and utilities led private hiring, with Seattle-area restaurants and bars boosted by the World Cup, while retail trade weakened.
State economists said Washington’s labor market has hovered around 0% year-over-year growth for months, extending a pattern of unemployment running above the U.S. average since 2022.