Job openings in Wash. decline by 32 percent
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Job vacancies in Washington fell 32 percent in six months, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday.
The department says a survey in October found employers trying to fill about 51,000 jobs. That compares with 75,000 in April.
The survey is taken twice a year, in the spring and fall.
"We saw a very sharp drop in a very short time in our state," said Greg Weeks, Employment Security Department’s director of labor-market information. "But the report shows that, despite a weak economy, firms are still hiring."
Industries with the most vacancies in October were health care, with 14,409 job openings; retail, with 7,231 openings; and accommodations (hotels) and food services; with 5,282 vacancies.
The occupation that was most in demand was registered nurses. Statewide, there were an estimated 4,124 openings for registered nurses.
"People looking for jobs or long-term careers have a better chance of getting and keeping a job in health care," said Weeks. "Even in a soft economy, it is still a strong industry, and there are consistently more jobs in health care than in other industries."
Most job openings were found in the Puget Sound area, particularly in King and Pierce counties.
Forty percent of estimated openings were in King County, which is slightly less than the county’s employment share of 42 percent. Eleven percent of fall vacancies were in Pierce County and 9 percent in Snohomish and Spokane counties.
More than 40 percent of vacant positions were offering less than $10 per hour, and 6 percent involved positions offering $30 or higher per hour. The median wage for jobs requiring advanced degrees was $35.47 per hour.
Median wages for available jobs dropped consistently with lower educational requirements, according to the October survey.
Job seekers can learn more about prevalent occupations and search more than 14,000 jobs listed online at www.go2worksource.com or by visiting a local WorkSource center. There are 68 WorkSource offices across Washington.
The department says a survey in October found employers trying to fill about 51,000 jobs. That compares with 75,000 in April.
The survey is taken twice a year, in the spring and fall.
"We saw a very sharp drop in a very short time in our state," said Greg Weeks, Employment Security Department’s director of labor-market information. "But the report shows that, despite a weak economy, firms are still hiring."
Industries with the most vacancies in October were health care, with 14,409 job openings; retail, with 7,231 openings; and accommodations (hotels) and food services; with 5,282 vacancies.
The occupation that was most in demand was registered nurses. Statewide, there were an estimated 4,124 openings for registered nurses.
"People looking for jobs or long-term careers have a better chance of getting and keeping a job in health care," said Weeks. "Even in a soft economy, it is still a strong industry, and there are consistently more jobs in health care than in other industries."
Most job openings were found in the Puget Sound area, particularly in King and Pierce counties.
Forty percent of estimated openings were in King County, which is slightly less than the county’s employment share of 42 percent. Eleven percent of fall vacancies were in Pierce County and 9 percent in Snohomish and Spokane counties.
More than 40 percent of vacant positions were offering less than $10 per hour, and 6 percent involved positions offering $30 or higher per hour. The median wage for jobs requiring advanced degrees was $35.47 per hour.
Median wages for available jobs dropped consistently with lower educational requirements, according to the October survey.
Job seekers can learn more about prevalent occupations and search more than 14,000 jobs listed online at www.go2worksource.com or by visiting a local WorkSource center. There are 68 WorkSource offices across Washington.