Washington’s economy lost 9,900 jobs in December and the state’s preliminary seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate increased from 5.7 percent in November (revised) to 7.1 percent in December according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
| Month | Total Jobs (losses or gains) | Unemployment rate | 2019 Unemployment Rate |
| March 2020 | – 27,900 | 5.1 percent | 4.5 percent |
| April 2020 | – 259,500* | 16.3 percent* | 4.4 percent |
| May 2020 | – 44,900* | 15.1 percent | 4.4 percent |
| June 2020 | + 53,100* | 10.0 percent* | 4.3 percent |
| July 2020 | + 62,400 | 10.2 percent* | 4.2 percent |
| August 2020 | + 50,100* | 8.4 percent* | 4.2 percent |
| September 2020 | + 9,300 | 8.3 percent* | 4.1 percent |
| October 2020 | +1,300* | 6.0 percent* | 4.0 percent |
| November 2020 | +23,200* | 5.7 percent* | 3.6 percent |
| December 2020 | -9,900 | 7.1 percent | 3.6 percent |
“The renewed efforts taken to contain the spread of COVID deeply impacted industries that provide high-contact services,” said Paul Turek, economist for the department. “Nowhere is that more apparent than in leisure and hospitality. Beyond that, employment in other industries is mostly holding up better.”
ESD released the preliminary job estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics as part of its Monthly Employment Report.
The department also announced that November’s previously reported unemployment rate of 6.0 percent was revised downward to 5.7 percent. November’s preliminary estimated gain of 100 jobs was revised to a gain of 23,200 jobs.
The national unemployment rate remained constant at 6.7 percent from November to December 2020. In December 2019, the national unemployment rate (revised) was 3.6 percent.
ESD paid unemployment insurance benefits to 434,740 people in December, an increase of 31,449 over the previous month.
State labor force grows with unemployed workers
The state’s labor force in December was 3,864,700– an increase of 46,300 people from the previous month. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force increased by 42,600 over the same period.
From December 2019 through December 2020, the state’s labor force decreased by 80,700 and the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region decreased by 8,100.
The labor force is the total number of people, both employed and unemployed, over the age of 16.
From November 2020 – December 2020, the number of people who were unemployed statewide increased from 219,200 to 272,500. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed increased from 77,200 to 122,200 over the same period.
Seven industry sectors expanded and six sectors contracted in December
Private sector employment decreased 10,600 jobs while government employment increased by 700 jobs. Provided below is a summary of the job gains and losses in all thirteen industry sectors.
Industry sector Job gains/losses
| Professional & business services | + 8,900 |
| Retail trade | + 4,800 |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | + 1,200 |
| Government | + 700 |
| Financial activities | + 500 |
| Construction | + 400 |
| Information | + 200 |
| Mining and logging | – 100 |
| Wholesale trade | – 500 |
| Other services | – 1,200 |
| Manufacturing | – 1,700 |
| Education and health services | – 2,500 |
| Leisure & hospitality | – 20,600 |
The leisure and hospitality industry continues to be hardest hit with payroll job losses year-over-year
Washington lost an estimated 189,300 jobs from December 2019 through December 2020, not seasonally adjusted. Private sector employment fell by 5.0 percent, down an estimated 147,100 jobs, while public sector employment fell by 7.1 percent with a net loss of 41,900 jobs.
From December 2019 through December 2020, eight major industry sectors contracted while five industry sectors expanded.
The three industry sectors with the largest employment losses year-over-year, not seasonally adjusted, were:
- Leisure and hospitality down 97,900 jobs
- Government down 41,900 jobs
- Manufacturing down 26,700 jobs