Herald Writer
The state unemployment rate fell slightly in January on the strength of the biggest job gain in three years, the state Employment Security Department reported today.
The state added 11,000 jobs in January, the best gain since November 2007, the month before the recession
began.
“It’s unusual to have job gains in the middle of winter, so this is another positive sign that the recovery is under way,” Paul Trause, employment security commissioner, said in a prepared statement.
Adding jobs were businesses in these sectors: professional and business services, education and health services, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, financial activities, transportation, warehousing and utilities, and mining and logging.
Those losing jobs included construction, manufacturing, information, government, and wholesale trade.
The state estimated that 338,905 people were unemployed and looking for work and 245,225 peple were receiving jobless benefits.
Information about the jobless rate in Snohomish and other counties won’t be available until next week.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
