Unemployment Rate In Washington State

Workers Are Cautious About Quitting

Fewer workers are leaving their jobs in the state as separation rates or more specifically quit rates are falling, after peaking in March. While separations cover employer-initiated involuntary layoffs and firings, quits are employee-initiated and voluntary.

Quit rates indicate workers willingness or capacity to leave jobs and are helpful to measure the strength of a job market. A rising quit rate is a sign of a very strong job market.

At the end of July, 2.2% of Washingtons workers quit, down from 2.4% in June. Though this is still on the higher end of the range for the state, the current quit rate is one of the lowest in the country.

Were starting to see some caution enter on the side of employees, Turek said. At the same time, weve also seen some strategies for businesses to retain their workers and give them less of a reason to quit.

Turek said employers and workers who are plugged into economic news are most cautious. The economic news in question is historic inflation and the threat of a recession.

Some workers may hang tight where they are because they worry that, if a recession arrives, new hires will be the first to be shown the door.

What Is My Base Year

Your base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week in which you apply for benefits. For example, if you applied for unemployment benefits on Jan. 20, 2021, your base year would include wages earned from Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020.

You could be eligible for an alternate base year claim if you do not have enough hours in that base year for a valid claim .

When you file your claim here:

Your base year is the blue-shaded area.

Washington Ranked No 34 State In The Nation In Unemployment Rate Changes

Washington was ranked in the bottom 20 states in the nation in WalletHubs updated Changes in Unemployment Rate by State report released Friday. Washington came in at No. 34.

With inflation remaining high and the U.S. gaining 263,000 jobs in September fewer than in the previous month the personal finance website ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia by comparing unemployment rate statistics from September to key dates in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.

Now, the U.S. unemployment rate sits at 3.5%, the report states. We have come a long way from the nearly historic high of 14.7% in April 2020, due to a combination of vaccinations and states removing restrictions. However, inflation and the potential of a recession threaten to push the unemployment rate higher again if Federal Reserve rate increases are not able to stave them off.

Persistently high inflation is stoking fears of a recession.

WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez spoke to The Center Square about the Evergreen States ranking.

Washington is among the states with the worst unemployment change, she said via email. The state has experienced a less than 3% drop in continued unemployment claims in the past month, which is the second smallest percentage in the country.

That was a sharp contrast to some other states.

By comparison, Gonzalez pointed out, the drop in continued claims in Connecticut in the past month is almost 44%.

The 10 states with the best change in unemployment:

1. Minnesota

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Counties With The Highest Unemployment Rate In Washington

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recessionthe Great Recession of 2008-2010sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Washington using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

Seattle Washington Unemployment Rate

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Filing Wage Reports And Paying Unemployment Taxes

Tax reports or tax and wage reports, and unemployment tax payments can be filed and paid through our free and efficient online systems, or by submitting our original paper forms.

Employer Account Management Services or EAMS for Single Filers can be used to file tax reports and wage reports online. You will need to set up your online account in advance.

ePay can be used to pay unemployment taxes online. Avoid last-minute setup or compatibility issues by taking time to get familiar with ePay before using it to pay unemployment taxes.

Jobless Rate Drops In Washington County

The county’s unemployment rate of 3.8% in September compares to 4.4% in August and 5.1% in September 2021.

The number of employed people fell from 70,195 in August to 70,146 in September. That number was 68,568 in September 2021.

The number of people without work fell from 3,222 in August to 2,741 in September. It was 3,701 in September 2021.

And the labor force total dropped from 73,417 to 72,887. The total was 72,269 in September 2021.

The labor force includes those who have jobs plus those who are unemployed and seeking work.

Basically, the jobless rate is the number of residents without jobs and looking for work divided by the total number in the labor force.

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Unemployment Tax Rates Faq

Q. How are employers’ unemployment-insurance tax rates calculated?A. Unemployment taxes in Washington are calculated using a formula that is written into state law. We do not have independent authority to adjust the rates.

There are two components of the state unemployment tax. The first component of the tax rate is the experience-based tax, which is based on the amount of unemployment benefits paid to former employees over the past four years. There are 40 experience rate classes, and businesses move up or down those classes based on their past experience.

The second part of the tax rate is called the social cost tax. It covers unemployment costs that cannot be recovered from specific businesses – so they are shared by all employers . During economic recessions, when benefits paid far exceed taxes collected, the social-cost tax also acts like a brake to slow the decline of the unemployment trust fund so employers aren’t hit by sharper, more sudden tax increases in the future.

Q. How is the taxable wage base determined?A. The taxable wage base is determined by the state’s average annual wage two years earlier. We’re updating this information to account for recent legislative changes. For the most current information, visit our annual tax rates page.

The current format of the number is : 000123456789.

If the number begins with 600, 601 or 602 and is formatted like this: 60X 456 789, it is the Unified Business Identifier number, not the ES reference number.

How Much Can I Get Each Week

In Washington state, this is how your weekly benefit amount is calculated:

Step 1: We add together the gross wages from the two highest quarters in your base year, then we divide by 2.

Step 2: Multiply the amount in step 1 by 0.0385.

• If this is more than Washingtons official maximum weekly benefit amount of $999, you will get $999.
• If this is at least $317 and not more than $999, you will get this amount, rounded down to the nearest dollar.
• If this is less than $317, we go to step 3.

Step 3: We calculate your weekly wage. We take the amount calculated in step 1, multiply by 4 and divide by 52 weeks. That equals your estimated weekly wage.

Step 4: Then we compare your estimated weekly wage to $317. You will get the lesser amount, rounded down to the nearest dollar.

Examples of weekly benefit amount calculation:

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A Strong Labor Markets Role In Inflation

When it comes to a strong job market, look past the tree and look at the forest, Turek said.

If you just focus on the labor market, were taking one tree out of the economy and if that was the only tree we got, things will look awfully good, he explained. Jobs are plentiful, the unemployment rate is low, essentially pushing towards full employment, rising wages for workers, which, you know, looks good.

Washington Employer Tax Information

To sign up for Squares online payroll service in Washington, you must be registered with the appropriate tax agencies so we can pay and file your state taxes:

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Facts And Figures Report October 2022

The Facts and Figures Report is prepared monthly and posted after the county press release as a quick reference for employees, legislators, partners and others who may be interested.

What is included in the Facts and Figures?

• Unemployment rates
• Monthly job growth or loss
• Data for unemployment claims and benefits
• Long-term unemployed data
• Toll-free numbers to resources for UI claimants, employers, job seekers and more

Unemployment rates

2Highest county rate: 9/2022: 7.3% 2Lowest county rate: 9/2022: 2.9% 1 = seasonally adjusted

Since recession start : 41,200 or 1.2%

Top growth industries:Transportation, warehousing and utilities: +2,700Information: +2,400Professional and business services: +1,800

Total jobs : 4,012,300

Total covered employment: 3,555,200Job losses during recession : -144,500Job losses recession start : 41,200Unemployed, seeking work: 150,200

Claimants, , 9/2022: 34,516CY16 = 210,554 CY17 = 224,823 CY18 = 187,603 CY19 = 196,545 CY20 = 898,712 CY21 = 341,774

Continued regular claims: -50%since 9/2021

Regular Benefits paid, 9/2022: $71.3MCY16 = $1.0B CY17 = $1.0B CY18 = $995.4M CY19 = $1.0B CY20 = $5.0B’ CY21 = $1.6B

Average weekly benefit , 8/2022: $641CY15 = $418 CY16 = $473 CY17 = $484 CY18 = $467 CY19 = $478 CY20 = $446 CY21 = $490

Highest/lowest weekly benefit: $999/$317

Average wage/minimum wage in Washington

Average yearly wage, 2021: $82,508 Average weekly wage, 2021: $1,586Minimum wage, 2022: $14.49

Trust fund balance, 9/30/2022: $2.97B

Office Of Financial Management

1970-2021

• Historically, the unemployment rate in Washington has been higher than the U.S. average, due primarily to a relatively high share of resource-based industries in the state which have more volatile seasonal employment patterns.
• Change in Washington unemployment rates has tracked closely with the U.S. trend, but the difference between the state and the U.S. rates usually widens during the economic downturns.
• The 2000-2003 run-up in jobless rates was a result of the bursting of the Dot-Com bubble in conjunction with the 9/11 recession this had a more pronounced impact on the Seattle area because of the localized concentration of Dot-Com start-ups and aerospace employment.
• The most jump in unemployment rates was related to the breaking of the housing market/equities/commodities bubble which hit Washington and the nation with similar force.
• U.S. and Washington unemployment rates tracked more closely this last recession than they had historically.

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What Are Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits provide you with temporary income when you lose your job through no fault of your own. The money partly replaces your lost earnings and helps you pay expenses while looking for new work. The benefits, from taxes your former employer paid, are not based on financial need. While you receive benefits, your job is to get back to work as quickly as possible.

How To Apply For Unemployment Benefits

The best and fastest way to apply is online. You can apply by phone, but not in person. At this time, you cannot apply in person. The steps below will guide you through the process.

Get ready to apply

Before applying, gather information youll need. Visit the Have this information ready webpage or see page 1 of the Unemployed Worker Handbook.

Reasonable accommodation. Information on reasonable accommodation is available for unemployment benefits customers with disabilities.

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Estimate Your Own Wba

• Identify the two highest quarters in your base year.
• Key each total in the boxes below.
• Press “Calculate” to see how much you are potentially eligible to receive.
• To try again, press Clear and start over.

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate of your weekly benefit amount. Your actual weekly benefit amount may be different when you file your claim.

Unemployment Data Shows Record

SPOKANE, Wash. – Employment data published Tuesday showed Spokane County reached a record-low, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.7% in September.

The Washington Employment Security Department published the preliminary data. The department found Spokane County had a total workforce of 263,288 workers. Of those, 253,455 were employed and 9,833 were unemployed.

The unemployment rate of 3.7% was equal to the statewide rate, but below the national average of 3.5%.

According to the Spokane Workforce Council, there were 7,639 job postings in September, an increase of 988 compared to September 2021.

Several other counties in eastern Washington also had low rates of unemployment. Asotin County had an unemployment rate of 2.9%, tied with King County for the lowest in the state. Adams County had a rate of 3.1%, Lincoln County had a rate of 3.7% and Whitman County had a rate of 3.5%.

Washington state’s northeastern counties continued to lag behind the state average. Ferry County had an unemployment rate of 7.3%, Pend Oreille County had a rate of 5.3% and Stevens County had a rate of 4.8%.

County-level unemployment data for October will be published by ESD on Nov. 22.

You can find this month’s data here, and historical data here.

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Unemployment Rate Falls In Hagerstown

In Hagerstown, the jobless rate was 4.5% in September. The figure is the city’s lowest since the rate was 4.4% in May.

The jobless rate was down from 5.3% in August and 6.3% in September 2021.

The number of employed people fell from 17,453 in August to 17,441 in September. That figure was 17,048 in September 2021.

The number of people without work fell from 969 to 816. The number was 1,142 in September 2021.

And the labor force total slid from 18,422 to 18,257. It was 18,190 in September 2021.

Eams For Single Filers

Use EAMS for Single Filers to submit and pay tax and wage reports. Users who need to make amendments or who are bulk filers should not use EAMS for Single Filers.

• One-time filing of tax reports or tax and wage reports.
• Useful for filing a no-payroll report or tax and wages for a small number of employees.
• Can’t amend reports you’ve filed. Must separately amend tax report by filing amended Tax & Wage Report.
• Auto-calculate excess wages for Washington employees.
• Save unfinished work.
• Pay, view and cancel payments.
• View account activity.

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Unemployment At An All

At 3.7%, Washingtons unemployment rate was at a record low in July, and preliminary data for August show the rate remained unchanged.

The rate covers the percentage of adults who are able to work but reported not having a job despite actively seeking one. It does not include adults who have given up looking for work or those who work part-time because they cant find a full-time job. The unemployment rate differs demographically nationally, Black workers are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as white workers, and were the only group to report an increase in unemployment this summer.

The strength of the job market can be measured by the ratio of unemployed persons per job opening.

The lower the ratio, the closer the economy is to full employment, which is the highest level of employment the economy can sustain without generating unwelcome inflation. It describes an economy in which nearly everyone who is able to work has a job.

In July, there were 0.7 job seekers per job opening in Washington. The ratio has dropped significantly since last June, when there was one unemployed person for every job opening.

Labor Supply Contracts In July

The states labor force in July was 4,030,800 a decrease of 8,100 people from the previous month. Labor force is defined as the total number of people, both employed and unemployed, older than 16.

In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force increased by 1,100 during the same period.

From July 2021 to July 2022, the states labor force increased by 114,000, while the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region increased by 70,100.

From June to July, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased from 155,400 to 149,300. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed decreased from 46,400 to 45,100 during the same period.

Of the industry sectors, in July:

• Five contracted

• Two were unchanged

Private sector employment increased by 3,400 jobs while government employment increased by 3,200 jobs. Table 2 shows a summary of the job gains and losses in all 13 industry sectors.

Annual payrolls continue to expand for nearly every industry

Washington gained an estimated 161,700 jobs from July 2021 July 2022, not seaslly adjusted. Private sector employment rose by 5.5%, up an estimated 157,100 jobs, while public sector employment rose by 0.8%, up an estimated 4,600 jobs.

From July 2021 July 2022, 12 major industry sectors expanded and one contracted

The three industry sectors with the largest employment gains year over year, not seasonally adjusted, were:

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