Snohomish County added 900 jobs in April in what a labor economist said could be a good sign that we’re starting to pull out of the nation’s deep recession.
In addition to seeing its first significant job growth in many months, the county also saw its unemployment rate drop from 9.8 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
“Economic growth between March and April could be a sign that Snohomish County is in the early stages of economic recovery,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, the agency’s labor economist for the county.” Indeed, the slowing rate of decline over the past couple months combined with actual growth in April indicates that this may be the case.”
About 500 of the jobs added last month were in government positions, including 400 jobs with the federal government to gather local census data. The census jobs are temporary.
The other added jobs were nearly all in the service sector, including positions such as landscaping, cleaning services and employment services.
There was also growth in some key areas, such as professional and business services, where employers often hire temporary help before adding permanent jobs. That sector added 200 people.
“Employment services increase their employment when employers are ready to test the waters and resume growth after a recession,” Vance-Sherman said. “Growth in employment services may be an indicator that employers in various industries are entertaining the possibility of hiring and expanding.”
Vance-Sherman noted that many of the jobs added in April are seasonal and said that time will tell whether the county’s job growth will continue.
The county’s manufacturers saw jobs decline slightly last month. The aerospace industry, which has 34,700 workers in the county, was flat in April.
Statewide, the numbers were also improved.
The jobless rate in Washington fell from 9.5 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April, its first drop in three years. The state also added 5,800 jobs.
“This is further evidence that our economy is starting to turn around and is headed in the right direction,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement. “The job growth is especially welcome news for job seekers.”
In the county, there were an estimated 350,880 people employed last month and an estimated 34,400 people actively looking for work. The jobless rate doesn’t count discouraged people no longer trying to find a job.
Vance-Sherman said new claims for unemployment benefits have also fallen, another sign of an improved economy. There were 6,113 initial claims for benefits in March and only 5,658 in April. Continued claims decreased from 18,643 to 17,272 and final unemployment checks were issued to 1,416 people last month, Vance-Sherman said.
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