Employment
The employment indicator uses the unemployment rate to measure the proportion of the population who is actively searching for work but is unable to find a job. Employment is an important path for people to receive a steady income and achieve economic security. Additionally, employer-sponsored health insurance is the most common source of health care coverage in Washington, and unemployment can limit access to health care.
Unemployment in Washington had been decreasing since the early 2010s. It rose to a peak of 8.4% in 2020 with the onset of COVID-19. However, it fell in the years following the pandemic, and returned to the pre-pandemic level of 4% in 2022.
The unemployment rate is similar across gender. It is around 5% for both men and women. However, regional differences persist. In 2022, Ferry County had the highest unemployment rate of 10%. In comparison, King County had the lowest unemployment rate of just below 3%.
Data is from the Employment Security Department’s local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). The estimates are annual averages and not seasonally adjusted.
The unemployment rate measures the proportion of the population who is actively searching for work but is unable to find a job.