State’s unemployment rate steady at 5.3 percent in August

OLYMPIA — Washington state’s unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in August, unchanged from July and June, state officials said Wednesday.

The latest report from the state’s Employment Security Department shows the state gained 1,600 new nonfarm jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis from July to August, with a gain of 900 new private sector jobs and 700 new jobs in the public sector.

The jobless rate in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett region of Western Washington was 3.6 percent, down from 3.7 percent in July.

“Washington continues to enjoy modest job growth with fewer individuals among the unemployed,” state labor economist Paul Turek said in a statement.

Since last year, Washington state has seen growth in major industries, adding an estimated 92,200 jobs since August 2014, with 84,800 new jobs in the private sector and 7,400 new positions in the public sector.