Snohomish County jobless rate drops to 3.6 percent

Snohomish County’s jobless rate fell to 3.6 percent in April, a drop that places it well below the figure generally considered full employment.

The April figure is 0.7 percent less than in March, which unemployment was 4.3 percent. Statewide, the jobless rate dipped two tenths of a percentage point to 4.7 percent in April, the 19th straight month in which unemployment was below 5 percent.

“Our economy has slowed, but it’s still healthier than many other parts of the country,” said Karen Lee, employment security commissioner. She said an estimated 158,636 people are unemployed and seeking work in Washington.