December 2024
Released January 28, 2025
Download the full PDF for Washington
Download the summary PDF for Washington
United States Employment Snapshot
In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.
Washington Employment Snapshot
In December, Washington added 11,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 31,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Washington added 47,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Washington is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Washington’s private sector added 12,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 36,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 30,200 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Washington rose by 2,815, and over the past 12 months it fell by 51,840.
Washington’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63 percent in December and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
Washington Payroll Employment
Washington added 11,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Washington added 31,800 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Washington is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Washington added 12,000 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Washington added 30,200 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Washington is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Construction (4,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-200) and Manufacturing (-1,600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (22,400) and Professional and Business Services (11,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-5,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,400).
Washington Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Washington remained unchanged at 63 percent in December.
Washington is tied for 26th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 66.2 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.4 percent occurring in January 2021.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.