Job growth is “wobbly,” but the unemployment rate for Washington is below 9 percent for July, according to Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee.

July’s employment rate — 8.9 percent — represents the fourth month of decreases in unemployment. June’s unemployment rate was initially reported at 8.9 percent, but was then adjusted to 9 percent.

The state still has 14,500 fewer jobs than July of last year and more than 300,000 people unemployed. About 239,000 of those received unemployment benefits in July.

Tags: unemployment

For the first time in three years, the Employment Security Department is reporting there are 21 percent more jobs listed than six months ago.

The Washington Job Vacancy Survey is done twice a year — in the fall and spring. The spring results were just released, and show38,732 vacancies — up from 32,037 in the fall. The record high was 90,000 vacancies in 2006, ESD reports.

“This is positive news for the thousands of people in our state who are hungry to get back to work,” Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee said in a press release. She said it will take some time to get all of the hundreds of thousands of unemployed people in the state back to work, but she sees this as a positive sign.

About 44 percent of the jobs listed were in King County. Many of the jobs statewide were in healthcare. Read the entire survey here.

Tags: Jobs, unemployment

This week’s Q&A is with Sheryl Hutchison, communication director for the Employment Security Department. The department is responsible for tracking employment statistics, maintaining WorkSource offices around the state and much, much more.

Q: What’s the latest unemployment rate? Is the economy recovering yet?

Hutchison: Let’s start with the first question. We announced today that the unemployment rate in June dropped to 8.9 percent, which is the lowest since April, 2009. That’s obviously a better direction.

The next set of statistics for July will come out Aug. 17.

In all likelihood what we’ve been seeing when the rate has dropped as much as this one did, chances are it will be revised up to 9 percent.

But, it’s just exciting to see something less than 9 percent. This is the third month in a row that it has declined. Since the start of the year, we’ve had a net job growth in this state of more than 23,000 jobs. For us, that’s a lot more exciting than what the unemployment rate is. You’re seeing things turn around – it’s not a steep U-shaped recovery where it’s going right back up. But it is the right direction….last year (in the same five-month period) we had lost about 77,000 jobs. So that’s a big sea change.

Q: Part of high unemployment is that it depletes the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. When the Legislature increased the benefit payout, there was some concern the trust fund would be depleted too far. Where does that stand?

Hutchison: We still have the healthiest trust fund in the country. Thirty five states and territories have bankrupted their trust funds. Furthermore, we do not anticipate triggering any surcharges.

One of the benefits going into the recession with a healthy trust fund is it allowed us to increase benefits. At the end of May, the trust fund reserves were at 13.9 months. Typically, the federal government advises that you go into the recession with at least 12 months. We’ve come down, but we’re still healthy.

Q: Do you anticipate the fund dipping further?

Hutchison: No, we really don’t.  Part of the reason is that through our governor and the Legislature, we’ve created a responsive system that reacts before we get to a critical stage. The result is you do start to see taxes start to rise, but it should happen in a gradual manner — rather than in other states when you see these sharp ups and downs, ours will kind of undulate for a while. They’ll go up for two or three years – that provides more stability.

Q: Have rates increased already?

Hutchison: They did start to increase this year. They’ll go up a little bit again next year. Probably … in 2012 they’ll start to flatten out. We don’t know yet – there’s a lot to happen between now and then. In 2011 it’ll go up again a bit more.

We call them “taxes,” but for the most part it’s really an insurance system with insurance premiums. So if you’re an employer who uses the program more, you’re going to pay a higher premium than an employer who doesn’t.

But it is an insurance system, which means shared costs. Some people who don’t use it at all are going to pay some of the freight for the people who do. There is more cost shifting going on right now – the people who haven’t used it are having a larger percentage increase than those at the top.

Q: Are you hearing complaints about that? From people who haven’t laid anyone off but are seeing a large increase in their premiums?

Hutchison: You always do. No one likes taxes. Some understand the system – they’ve been with it for a long time. If you’re someone at the bottom of the system whose rate is small – less than 1 percent of payroll – you might have seen your premiums double.
There’s two parts of the rate – there’s the experience rating and then there’s the piece that’s a socialized cost. That cost-shifting component varies more frequently. Experience rated taxes are averaged out over four years. They’ll see some increase over four years rather than just in one year. But it does mean there’s more cost shifting right now to make up for the loss in the trust fund. Our system is designed to increase the socialized cost to help even that out.

Q: Let’s talk about the Unemployment Insurance changes required by federal law. What needs to happen, and when does the Legislature need to make changes?

Hutchison: The Department of Labor has been encouraging states to do what we call “modernize” the unemployment system. (more…)

Tags: economy, Thursday Q&A, unemployment, WorkSource

The state’s unemployment rate dropped for the third straight month — to 8.9 percent. The unemployment rate is now the lowest since April, 2009.

“It’s just exciting to see something less than 9″ percent, Sheryl Hutchison, communications director for the Employment Security Department, said. I talked with Sheryl for today’s Q&A, which will be posted this afternoon — so check back here.

To read the full unemployment statistics, go here.

Tags: unemployment

May’s unemployment numbers dropped to 9.1 percent and the economy added 8,600 jobs — the fourth time in the first five months of 2010.

The bad news: Though 25,800 jobs have been added this year, the state still has 27,000 fewer jobs than this time last year.

“It’s refreshing to talk about job growth and a falling unemployment rate,” Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee said in a press release.

About 9,000 new jobs in May were with the U.S. Census. Construction, business services, retail and wholesale trade, and education and health services also saw jobs added.

On the down side: Financial activities, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, transportation, warehousing, utilities and information all lost jobs.

If you’re looking for a job, WorkSource offices can be found here or by calling 877-872-5627.

Tags: unemployment

Washington’s newest unemployment rates are out: April was the first time in three years the unemployment rate fell. It’s now at 9.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, down from 9.5 percent in March.

The state also added 5,800 jobs — for a total of 14,800 jobs this year, according to the Employment Security Department.

“This is further evidence that our economy is starting to turn around and is headed in the right direction,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.  “The job growth is especially welcome news for job seekers.”

The bad news: “Year over year, Washington had 48,400 fewer jobs last month than in April 2009, a 1.7 percent decrease.  Nationally, employment declined by 1.7 percent over the past year.”

And more than 300,000 people in the state were unemployed and looking for work in April.

Tags: unemployment

The Employment Security Department sent out March job numbers today: The month saw both an uptick in jobs and unemployment.

After 13 consecutive months of job losses, ESD says we’ve had job growth in two of the last three months. March’s growth was 1,600 jobs.

So, how are there more jobs, 6,000 more people in the labor force and more unemployment claims? Dave Wallace, an economist with ESD, said it’s likely that some people had been searching for jobs, grew discouraged and stopped looking but are now hunting again. (The unemployment figure includes only those who are looking for work.)

March unemployment is at 9.5 percent — up from February’s adjusted rate of 9.4 percent. 

To see the full report, go here. Tolook for work, go here.     

Tags: unemployment

The job gains made in January — the first time the state has added jobs in more than a year — vanished in February, when unemployment increased to 9.5 percent and the economy lost 8,300 jobs.

The Employment Security Department released the figures today.

“We took a couple steps forward in January and one step back in February,”  Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee said in a press release. “The path into the recession was steep but, as we’re seeing, the climb back out will be more gradual.”

So: 365,661 people in Washington are unemployed and looking for work, as of January. Nearly 300,000 of those people received unemployment benefits in February.

Looking for a job? Go to the Work Source web site.

Tags: unemployment

This just in from the Employment Security Department: Washington added 12,400 jobs in January — a first since Nov. 2008.

The unemployment rate, meanwhile, went slightly up — from 9.2 percent in December to 9.3 percent in January. (Confused about December’s figure of 9.2 percent? It was originally reported as 9.5 percent, but was adjusted to 9.2 percent during the review process, where they survey more claims.)

Some bad news: “An estimated 359,500 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in January. More than 305,000 people received unemployment benefits from Washington state in January.”

Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a press release that the news is a positive sign. “We have implemented several strategies to create jobs, and it’s paying off. There is more we can and should do – that’s why I continue to work with leaders at both the state and federal levels to develop additional proposals that will put people to work.

Need to find work? Go here or call 877-872-5627.

Tags: Jobs, unemployment

Unemployment for December rose to 9.5 percent. Construction took the biggest hit, according to the Employment Security Department.

Some potentially good news: “Despite the jump in the unemployment rate, monthly job losses are continuing to decline, according to the Employment Security Department’s chief economist, Dave Wallace. Washington lost an estimated 23,700 jobs in the last six months of 2009 – compared to more than 80,000 job losses in the first six months of the year.”

Despite the increase in unemployment — up from a revised 9 percent in November — the state’s chief economic forecaster, Arun Raha, told me last week not to worry. Why? “If (December is) negative, don’t let that confuse you. I do feel that January through March will be positive.”

Tags: unemployment