November 2024 | Released December 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In November, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In November, payroll jobs rose in 39 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Washington. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Vermont.

Washington Employment Snapshot

• In November, Washington added 30,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 33,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 50,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 227,000 in November, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In November, Washington’s private sector added 29,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 37,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington lost 35,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In November, employment in Washington fell by 3,219, and over the past 12 months it fell by 51,930.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 63 percent in November from 63.2 percent 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.

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Washington Payroll Employment

• Washington added 30,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.9 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Washington lost 33,600 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 227,000 in November, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 29,200 private sector jobs, or 1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Washington lost 35,300 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 194,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 28th 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 November were Manufacturing (31,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (19,700) and Government (13,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-200) and Information (-5,000).

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 fell to 63 percent in November from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in November.