The state’s jobless rate dipped slightly in April as Washington added an estimated 5,800 jobs last month.
Unemployment dropped from 9.2 percent in March to 9.1 percent in April, according to the Employment Security Department.
Snohomish County’s unemployment rate will be announced next week.
Since April 2010, Washington has added an estimated 41,500 jobs, officials said.
“We’re beginning to see job growth pick up some real momentum,” Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause said in a prepared statement. “It’s tough to not feel optimistic about where we’re going.” Adding jobs last month were construction, up 2,400; professional and business services, up 1,700; manufacturing, up 1,200; retail trade, up 900; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 900; information, up 900; education and health services, up 900; financial activities, up 500; and wholesale trade, up 200.
Jobs were lost in government, down 2,500; other services, down 800; and leisure and hospitality, down 500.
An estimated 307,737 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in April, and 217,038 people received unemployment benefits from Washington.
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