Washington State Unemployment Rate Climbs to 5.1%

0:00It's April 22nd, welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI. Washington State's unemployment rate climbed to 5.1% in February, marking the fourth month in a row of increases. That's a jump from 4.4% this time last year, signaling some real shifts in the job market. Nationally, the rate edged up to 4.3% in January to 4.4% in February compared to 4.2%. Last year, chief labor economist Annelie's Vance Sherman calls it a transition period, with workers sticking to jobs more and less turnover than in the hot market days. In Pierce County, unemployment hit 6.1% up sharply from 4.7% last February, even as the labor force grew a bit. Gaines showed in transportation, warehousing, utilities, and private education plus health services. But government jobs dropped, likely tied to. Federal cuts, though military data stays off limits. Thurston County said at 5%, what calm at 5.1%, Benzen at 5.7%, and Franklin at 6.7%,

1:06percent mostly steady or slightly down from last year. The Tri-Cities added over 5,000 people to the workforce, boosted by professional services, government and health, despite dips in, manufacturing and hospitality. Statewide, private sectors like health, education, and transportation added jobs over the year, offsetting losses in retail, manufacturing, and government. Employments up just 0.4% from last February, but this steady creep toward 5% feels like a return to normal after years of lows.