Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Snohomish County unemployment now 1% above state
Unemployment in Snohomish County climbed slightly to hit a sobering 10.2 percent in October, nearly a percentage point above the Washington state average.
The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in October, roughly on par with a revised rate of 9.1 percent the month before, according to data from the state Employment Security Department.
“Things seem to be holding fairly steady, both at the state level and the metropolitan level,” said Desiree Phair, a regional labor economist for the state.
A slight rise in unemployment is typical for fall months, when summer employment drops off and holiday hiring hasn’t started. But Snohomish County’s rate, not seasonally adjusted, comes a bit closer to doubling the 5.9 unemployment rate the county saw in October of 2008.
The county’s unemployment rate was reported at 10.1 percent last month, then revised to 9.9 percent after further analysis.
The state lost an estimated 5,100 nonagricultural jobs in October.
The leisure and hospitality industry sustained the biggest blow to the job market, down about 2,900 jobs. And the retail sector also shed 1,400 jobs in October.
Year over year, Washington had 120,000 fewer jobs last month than in October 2008 — a 4.1 percent decrease.
Statewide, nearly 311,000 people were looking for work in October, according to data released Tuesday. Nearly 229,000 people received unemployment benefits from the state that month.
The presidents of the regional federal banks in San Francisco and Atlanta warned last week that jobs won’t likely rebound for several years, because of the nation’s slow crawl out of recession. Slight net job gains are expected to occur in 2010.
Historically, employment sees an uptick during holiday months when buying picks up and retailers hire part-time help. But a dismal outlook on the holiday shopping season could curb hiring during November and December.
“There’s a lot of wait and see,” Phair said.
October’s unadjusted numbers put Snohomish County’s unemployment rate at the same level as the national average.
The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in October, roughly on par with a revised rate of 9.1 percent the month before, according to data from the state Employment Security Department.
“Things seem to be holding fairly steady, both at the state level and the metropolitan level,” said Desiree Phair, a regional labor economist for the state.
A slight rise in unemployment is typical for fall months, when summer employment drops off and holiday hiring hasn’t started. But Snohomish County’s rate, not seasonally adjusted, comes a bit closer to doubling the 5.9 unemployment rate the county saw in October of 2008.
The county’s unemployment rate was reported at 10.1 percent last month, then revised to 9.9 percent after further analysis.
The state lost an estimated 5,100 nonagricultural jobs in October.
The leisure and hospitality industry sustained the biggest blow to the job market, down about 2,900 jobs. And the retail sector also shed 1,400 jobs in October.
Year over year, Washington had 120,000 fewer jobs last month than in October 2008 — a 4.1 percent decrease.
Statewide, nearly 311,000 people were looking for work in October, according to data released Tuesday. Nearly 229,000 people received unemployment benefits from the state that month.
The presidents of the regional federal banks in San Francisco and Atlanta warned last week that jobs won’t likely rebound for several years, because of the nation’s slow crawl out of recession. Slight net job gains are expected to occur in 2010.
Historically, employment sees an uptick during holiday months when buying picks up and retailers hire part-time help. But a dismal outlook on the holiday shopping season could curb hiring during November and December.
“There’s a lot of wait and see,” Phair said.
October’s unadjusted numbers put Snohomish County’s unemployment rate at the same level as the national average.
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