October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Washington Employment Snapshot

• In October, Washington lost 35,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 13,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Washington’s private sector lost 38,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington lost 4,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Washington fell by 4,725, and over the past 12 months it fell by 49,718.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.2 percent in October from 63.3 percent and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Washington Payroll Employment

• Washington lost 35,900 net payroll jobs, or -1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,800 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 38,300 private sector jobs, or -1.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Washington lost 4,000 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Washington ranks 51st 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 October were Government (2,400) and Education and Health Services (1,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-5,400) and Manufacturing (-31,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (21,400) and Government (13,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-5,800) and Manufacturing (-30,000).

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 63.2 percent in October from 63.3 percent in the prior month.

• Washington is tied for 24th 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 62.6 percent in October.