Washington unemployment statistics at a glance
Washington’s unemployment picture in the supplied data changes by season, geography, and time horizon. The most useful way to read it is to separate the monthly labor market snapshot from the longer-run annual and forecast figures, because the story is not just one rate but a set of shifts in labor force size, unemployment counts, payroll employment, and regional differences.
Fast facts
- Washington’s March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.8% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
- Washington’s revised February 2024 unemployment rate was 4.7% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
- Washington’s March 2023 unemployment rate was 4.5% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
- Washington’s 2024 annual average unemployment rate was 4.2% (BLS 2024 State Unemployment Annual Averages).
- Washington’s March 2025 unemployment rate was 4.4% (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).
- Washington’s March 2025 forecast annual unemployment rate was 4.5% for 2025 (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).
- Washington’s March 2025 forecast annual unemployment rate was 4.7% for 2026 (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).
Those figures show a state that moved through a moderate unemployment range rather than extreme volatility. The monthly data in March 2024 and the annual average for 2024 both sit in the low-to-mid 4% band, while the March 2025 state-level reading and forecasts remain close to that same zone.
Table of contents
- The state-level monthly snapshot
- What changed in the labor force
- Nonfarm employment and job movement
- Seattle metro and county differences
- Benefit claims, trust funds, and job-seeker support
- Long-term unemployment and job-search pressure
- Forecasts and what they imply
The state-level monthly snapshot
The clearest month-to-month comparison in the source data is March 2024 versus February 2024. Washington’s March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.8%, up from a revised 4.7% in February 2024 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). That does not read like a sharp labor market break, but it does indicate a small move in the wrong direction over the month.
The year-over-year comparison is also useful. Washington’s March 2023 unemployment rate was 4.5%, while March 2024 reached 4.8% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). In other words, the rate was higher than a year earlier, but still in a relatively narrow band.
The March 2024 labor force backdrop
The unemployment rate alone does not capture the size of the workforce. Washington’s March 2024 resident labor force was 4,019,937, and the unemployed count was 193,580 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). Those figures matter because a state can have the same unemployment rate with very different absolute counts depending on labor force size.
The month before, February 2024 resident labor force was 4,027,298 and the unemployed count was 190,070 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). That means the labor force was slightly larger in February, while the unemployed count was slightly smaller, which helps explain the modest rate increase in March.
The report also notes that Washington’s unemployed count increased by 3,510 over the month in March 2024, while the employed count dropped by 10,871 and the labor force fell by 7,361 workers (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). Those three facts together point to a labor market that softened at the margin rather than one that suddenly snapped.
What changed in the labor force
The labor force numbers are often where a headline rate needs more context. Washington’s March 2024 resident labor force was 4,019,937, compared with 4,027,298 in February 2024 and 4,047,314 in March 2023 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). The sequence shows a gradual decline from the year-earlier level and a smaller decline from February to March.
A useful way to interpret this is to think about participation and churn. If the labor force falls while unemployment rises, the rate can move in ways that are not obvious from either measure alone. Here, the source data gives both the direction and the scale: fewer people in the labor force, fewer employed people, and more unemployed people in March 2024 than in February 2024 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
Washington versus the U.S.
Washington’s March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.8%, while the U.S. March 2024 unemployment rate was 3.8% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). That one-point gap is meaningful. It shows Washington running above the national average in that month, even though the state was still inside a broadly normal labor market range.
Nonfarm employment and job movement
Unemployment is only part of the labor market story. The source data also includes nonfarm employment changes, which tell you whether employers are adding or shedding jobs. Washington’s March 2024 nonfarm employment increased by 5,300 jobs from February (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). At the same time, January 2024 Washington nonfarm employment was down 2,700 jobs and February 2024 Washington nonfarm employment was up 3,900 jobs (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
That pattern suggests a choppy but not collapsing employment base. Month-to-month changes were positive in February and March after a January dip, which fits with a labor market that was still adjusting rather than moving in a single direction.
Monthly comparisons in one view
| Period | State unemployment rate | Labor force | Unemployed count | Job change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | 4.5% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 4,047,314 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 180,382 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | not stated |
| February 2024 | 4.7% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 4,027,298 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 190,070 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | +3,900 jobs (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) |
| March 2024 | 4.8% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 4,019,937 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | 193,580 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) | +5,300 jobs (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report) |
The table shows why a single rate can be misleading. March 2024 had job growth, but also a larger unemployed count and a lower labor force than February 2024 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). That combination is a reminder that payroll growth and unemployment can move together for short periods if labor force dynamics are shifting.
Why the nonfarm number matters
Nonfarm employment is a practical measure because it tracks jobs, not just job seekers. Washington’s March 2024 nonfarm gain of 5,300 jobs from February is a sign of expansion, but the wider picture is still mixed because the labor force and unemployed count moved in the opposite direction (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). Readers looking for the state unemployment rate should therefore treat the job gain as a positive sign, not as evidence that all labor market friction disappeared.
Seattle metro and county differences
Statewide averages can hide very different local conditions. The data includes both metro and county profiles, and the spread is wide enough to matter for job seekers, employers, and policy watchers.
Seattle/Bellevue/Everett metro area
Seattle/Bellevue/Everett’s March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.1%, down from 4.0% in February 2024 and well above 3.0% in March 2023 (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report). The metro area’s March 2024 resident labor force was 1,804,165, with 73,417 unemployed individuals (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
That metro reading is lower than Washington’s statewide 4.8% rate in March 2024, which implies that some parts of the state were doing materially better than the statewide average. The metro also had 1,809,015 people in the labor force in February 2024 and 71,629 unemployed individuals, so the March change was not just about rate movement; it also involved a slightly smaller labor force and a higher unemployed count (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report).
County-level spread in the later profile data
The county profiles in the source set show that local unemployment rates can remain meaningfully different even within the same state. King County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 5.7%, with 78,119 unemployed individuals and a labor force of 1,368,053 (King County profile). Pierce County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 6.4%, with 31,721 unemployed individuals and a labor force of 494,143 (Pierce County profile). Snohomish County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 6.0%, with 27,656 unemployed individuals and a labor force of 462,800 (Snohomish County profile).
The rural and smaller-county figures can diverge too. Yakima County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 7.7%, with 9,442 unemployed individuals and a labor force of 123,241 (Yakima County profile). Spokane County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 5.1%, with 13,241 unemployed individuals and a labor force of 261,569 (Spokane County profile). Thurston County’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 4.9%, with 7,022 unemployed individuals (Thurston County profile).
Compact county comparison
| County | Unemployment rate | Unemployed individuals | Labor force | Payroll jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | 5.7% (King County profile) | 78,119 (King County profile) | 1,368,053 (King County profile) | 1,368,700 (King County profile) |
| Pierce | 6.4% (Pierce County profile) | 31,721 (Pierce County profile) | 494,143 (Pierce County profile) | 342,000 (Pierce County profile) |
| Snohomish | 6.0% (Snohomish County profile) | 27,656 (Snohomish County profile) | 462,800 (Snohomish County profile) | 302,800 (Snohomish County profile) |
| Spokane | 5.1% (Spokane County profile) | 13,241 (Spokane County profile) | 261,569 (Spokane County profile) | 264,400 (Spokane County profile) |
| Yakima | 7.7% (Yakima County profile) | 9,442 (Yakima County profile) | 123,241 (Yakima County profile) | not stated |
The county table shows a familiar labor market truth: smaller places can post bigger rates even when absolute unemployment counts are lower. That is especially visible in Yakima County’s 7.7% rate compared with Spokane County’s 5.1% and King County’s 5.7% (Yakima County profile, Spokane County profile, King County profile).
Benefit claims, trust funds, and job-seeker support
The statistics are not limited to unemployment rates and payroll jobs. They also show how the safety net and job-search infrastructure were operating.
Washington’s December 2025 regular benefits claimants were 78,870, and continued regular claims share was 14.4% (Facts and Figures Report). Washington’s December 2025 regular benefits paid were $207.4M, with an average weekly benefit of $755 (Facts and Figures Report). The fiscal year 2025 lowest weekly benefit was $342 and the highest weekly benefit was $1,079 (Facts and Figures Report).
These numbers are important because they describe the scale and structure of support available during unemployment. They also show that benefit levels varied significantly within the state system, from the lowest to the highest weekly payment (Facts and Figures Report).
Job-search and WorkSource activity
The same report gives a detailed picture of service use. Washington’s December 2025 WorkSource participants were 71,024, job seekers assisted with employment were 31,422, and job postings were 31,106 (Facts and Figures Report). Washington’s employers posting jobs numbered 1,009, and employers provided a WorkSource service to 319 employers (Facts and Figures Report).
That makes the job-search system look active rather than idle. There were nearly as many job postings as assisted job seekers, which suggests an important matching environment for people navigating unemployment or underemployment (Facts and Figures Report).
Funding and trust funds
The fiscal side also matters. Washington’s Q4 2024 unemployment insurance taxes collected were $455.9M, and the unemployment insurance trust fund balance was $3.7B (Facts and Figures Report). Washington’s Q4 2025 PFML premiums collected were $545.0M, and the PFML account balance was $16.6M (Facts and Figures Report). Washington’s 2025 PFML premium rate was 0.9%, the premium wage cap was $176,100, and the employer responsibility share was 28.5% (Facts and Figures Report).
That is a useful reminder that unemployment statistics are tied to financing systems. A strong trust fund balance and a functioning claims system help explain how unemployment support can remain available during periods of labor market strain (Facts and Figures Report).
Long-term unemployment and job-search pressure
The unemployment rate is only one dimension of hardship. Long-term unemployment gives a better sense of how much search friction persists. Washington’s December 2025 long-term unemployment job seekers totaled 44,300, or 22.1% of job seekers and 1.1% of the total labor force (Facts and Figures Report).
That means a meaningful share of the job-seeking population was still facing extended search durations. The same report shows the long-term unemployed group skewed male, with 66% male and 34% female among long-term unemployment job seekers (Facts and Figures Report).
This matters because long-term unemployment often carries different policy and personal consequences than a short spell without work. A state can have a moderate headline unemployment rate and still have a sizable group of people dealing with prolonged search time, skill mismatch, or location mismatch (Facts and Figures Report).
Forecasts and what they imply
The forecast data in the source set adds a forward-looking layer. Washington’s March 2025 forecast annual unemployment rate was 4.5% for 2025, 4.7% for 2026, 4.7% for 2027, 4.6% for 2028, and 4.4% for 2029 (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).
Those forecast values are not dramatic. They suggest a state unemployment rate expected to remain in a fairly tight range over several years rather than swing sharply up or down.
Broader state labor market context
The same source says Washington employers shed 12,400 jobs in the first quarter of 2025 and that federal workers make up about 2% of total employment in Washington (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions). It also says federal-worker unemployment insurance claims in Washington were up 71% year over year in 2025 (First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).
Those details help explain why the forecast still matters even when the headline unemployment rate does not look extreme. The labor market can weaken in specific segments or industries while the statewide average remains only modestly elevated.
Reading the forecast alongside the actuals
If you compare the forecast with the actual March 2024 and 2025 figures, the overall picture is one of persistence rather than shock. Washington’s March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.8%, Washington’s 2024 annual average unemployment rate was 4.2%, and Washington’s March 2025 unemployment rate was 4.4% (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report, BLS 2024 State Unemployment Annual Averages, First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions). That spread is narrow enough to support a reading of relative stability, but wide enough to show the state still had room to improve.
For readers tracking Washington unemployment statistics, the key takeaway is that the state data set tells a layered story. There is the monthly rate, the annual average, the metro and county variation, the support system behind the scenes, and the forecast path ahead. Taken together, those figures describe a labor market that was neither booming nor collapsing, but working through measurable pressure points across regions and categories (March 2024 Monthly Employment Report, Facts and Figures Report, First Quarter 2025 State Labor Market Conditions).