County remains hard at work

Herald staff

Normal seasonal trends kept the Snohomish County unemployment rate steady and the state’s relatively unchanged, state officials said Tuesday.

State Employment Security Commissioner Carver Gayton said the unemployment rate typically remains stable in June and July, when large increases in total employment are offset by an increase in the labor force.

While seasonal hiring for tourism, hotels and lodging increased, those numbers were offset by cutbacks among federal census workers and education-related jobs, the agency reported.

The county’s jobless rate of 3.7 percent has not changed since April, while the state’s rate inched up one-tenth of a percentage point, to 4.6 percent of the work force. That’s still down three-tenths of a percentage point from the 4.9 percent jobless rate a year ago.

In the county, 12,700 were without jobs in June out of the total workforce of 345,700. That was only 1,000 more than a month ago when the workforce stood at 344,400. A year ago, 4.1 percent of the county’s workforce of 341,400 was jobless.

Seasonally adjusted, the statewide jobless rate was flat, at 4.7 percent, compared to a national rate of 4.0 percent.

In Island County, 1,200 – or 4.2 percent – of the county’s workforce of 29,000 was without jobs. That is down from May, when the Island County rate was at 4.4 percent and the labor force was the same size.

Throughout the state, total nonfarm wage and salary employment increased by 19,900, the agency said.

Wholesale and retail trade jumped by 8,500, led by apparel and dining places. Service employment increased by 7,100, led by strong gains in recreation, computer data processing and temporary personnel services. Machinery and electronics increased by 300, and textile and apparel manufacturing rose by 200.

Losses were attributed to a 6,100-worker cutback of census workers and 6,300 pullback in education.

Aircraft and parts employment dropped by 200, bringing the cumulative downsizing, led by Boeing Co. job reductions, from the July 1998 peak to 26,200, the agency said. About 90 percent of June’s cuts were among Boeing employees, an agency official said.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.