Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.8% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 9,600 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2021.
Total employment in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA market rose by 41,947 jobs in February and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 5.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 26 bps over the same time to 6.6%.
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA unemployment rate is 75 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 280 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in February versus prior month by -3.1% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.2% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 395,700; -400
- Business Services: 301,400; +4,400
- Education & Healthcare: 279,700; +3,600
- Government: 258,700; +1,200
- Manufacturing: 157,100; +800
- IT & Development: 136,600; -700
- Restaurants & Hotels: 135,000; +9,600
- Construction, Mining: 133,100; +4,100
- Financial Services: 99,200; -100
- Other Jobs: 69,300; +700
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through February 2021 (Data published April 2021 and reports created on April 9, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.