Jobs down slightly in September - Oct. 23, 2007

07-083

Media contacts: Evelina Tainer, 360-438-4812
Caitlin Cormier, 360-902-9215

Audio: /newsandinformation/releases/audio/september-unemployment-rate.mp3

OLYMPIA – The number of non-agricultural jobs in Washington declined by 1,100 in September, according to the state Employment Security Department.
 
The lower number is due to a statistical fluke that caused a large reversal in government employment after a two-month surge in July and August. The employment growth in July and August was unusual for the season and is usually counted in September.
 
Seasonal adjustments account for normal seasonal patterns that occur year after year, such as strong seasonal hiring in schools in September. Smoothing out the large, regular fluctuations makes it possible to see unusual changes in employment levels. This year, hiring in schools and for elections in July and August, instead of September, skewed the summer numbers.
 
As reported last week, the Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly in September to 4.8 percent, up from 4.6 percent in August. The higher rate is still within the historically low range Washington has enjoyed since the beginning of 2007.
 
“State employment and the unemployment rate may wobble a bit, but we are consistently in a good place, and the numbers serve as good indicators of our economy’s stability and strength,” said Evelina Tainer, chief economist for the Employment Security Department. 
 
Industries with the largest job growth in September were education and health services, with 1,700 new jobs, and construction, up 1,500.
 
Government was the weakest major industry sector, misleadingly down 5,400 because the usual job growth for the season in that area happened in July and August instead of September.
 
Since September 2006, 78,100 net new jobs have been created in Washington and job growth has remained healthy for the past three years. Over all, non-agricultural job growth increased by 2.7 percent, compared to a national rate increase of 1.2 percent. 
 
An estimated 148,200 people (non-seasonally adjusted) currently are unemployed and seeking work in Washington. Free job-readiness and job-search assistance is available online at go2worksource.com and at local WorkSource offices.

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