State unemployment rate drops to 7.6 percent
SEATTLE (AP) - Washington state's unemployment rate dropped to 7.6 percent last month, the second month in a row with a state jobless rate below 8 percent and the lowest rate in four years.
The state's Employment Security Department said Wednesday the seasonally adjusted rate for November was 7.7 percent. That was the first month since January 2009 when unemployment in Washington was below 8 percent.
Employment Security Department officials caution, however, that the recent drops in unemployment can be tied, in part, to unemployed job seekers who have stopped looking for work.
The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that's unemployed and actively looking for work. People who quit looking for work are not counted.
The total number of employed people and those actively looking for work has declined by 60,000 since Washington employment peaked in February 2010. The state has regained more than half the jobs lost during the recession, but the labor force has been declining.
State officials saw a steady decline in workforce participation in 2012, even though the state's potential working population has increased, said Joe Elling, the state's chief labor economist.
Employment officials also connect some of the change in the numbers to the recently updated system for making seasonal adjustments. That might explain why in December, a month that usually sees an increase in retail jobs, those numbers dropped this year.
Fewer employers responded to the state's employment survey in December and that could also have led to an inaccurate estimate, Elling said.
"It will take time to determine the accuracy of these numbers," he said. "I think we have to treat some of these numbers with a great deal of caution."
Some bright spot of the report were an increase in construction employment of more than 3,000 jobs and leisure and hospitality reporting 1,400 more jobs.
State officials will take another look at figures for all of 2012 before issuing their next report in early March, Elling said.
The state's Employment Security Department said Wednesday the seasonally adjusted rate for November was 7.7 percent. That was the first month since January 2009 when unemployment in Washington was below 8 percent.
Employment Security Department officials caution, however, that the recent drops in unemployment can be tied, in part, to unemployed job seekers who have stopped looking for work.
The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that's unemployed and actively looking for work. People who quit looking for work are not counted.
The total number of employed people and those actively looking for work has declined by 60,000 since Washington employment peaked in February 2010. The state has regained more than half the jobs lost during the recession, but the labor force has been declining.
State officials saw a steady decline in workforce participation in 2012, even though the state's potential working population has increased, said Joe Elling, the state's chief labor economist.
Employment officials also connect some of the change in the numbers to the recently updated system for making seasonal adjustments. That might explain why in December, a month that usually sees an increase in retail jobs, those numbers dropped this year.
Fewer employers responded to the state's employment survey in December and that could also have led to an inaccurate estimate, Elling said.
"It will take time to determine the accuracy of these numbers," he said. "I think we have to treat some of these numbers with a great deal of caution."
Some bright spot of the report were an increase in construction employment of more than 3,000 jobs and leisure and hospitality reporting 1,400 more jobs.
State officials will take another look at figures for all of 2012 before issuing their next report in early March, Elling said.
" Department officials caution, however, that the recent drops in unemployment can be tied, in part, to unemployed job seekers who have stopped looking for work."
Â
Besides, there are only so many minimum-wage jobs available. Not to mention the jobs that are out of the picture because the illegals have them sewn up. How many greeters does Wal Mart need, anyway?
Great we will no longer need to hear about the crying when they stop offering years of UE checks then.
Komo forgot to finish the headline..   "State unemployment rate drops to 7.6% as more unemployment benefits run out"
I'm not sure if it sad or funny that as the unemployment numbers continue their slow but steady drop some people claim it is all a lie. When it hits 7.5% will it still be a lie? When it drops below 7% will it still be a liberal conspiracy?
Horse poopie!!! The data is flawed. They don't count people who have stopped looking or not eligible for unemployment. The correct rate is at 8.9 % to factor in these people.
 @toolbox1007 If you have stopped looking you should not be counted.  If you couldn't find a job in your field it is time to start looking in a new field or to start educating yourself to make yourself more desirable to employers. I have changed fields 3 times and went to school for training in 4 different areas in less than  10 years. This was due to me not wanting to be in a field anymore or noticing the field was drying up.  I  have only been unemployed for 6 months by choice but not on unemployment. Outside of that I have always been employed and even had multiple jobs numerous times.
 @APenny4MyThoughts  @toolbox1007 But how many greeters does Wal Mart need?
This is because most people have given up and just collect benefits that we have to pay for....
 @Smashquail No. People are actually hiring. I know it doesn't fit into your narrative, but the job market has heated up again.  The housing market has also taken off again, and with that are the jobs.  I've seen so many home developments that were stopped in 2008, being finished now. There are people building homes all around my town, now. New businesses are popping up, and companies that I know are expanding and hiring.  Yes, there are people who will remain unemployed due to changes in the workplace in America (aka american corporations make their billions by sending bread winner jobs to countries like china and india, AND some industries are just not coming back, so the market for people skilled in one thing, has dried up.)  But.. take a peek. There are jobs out there.Â
 @DT  @Smashquail Maybe you can let all those job-seekers in on specific companies that are hiring FULL-TIME, entry level. Please get back to us.
Â
Oh yeah, one more thing;
"...american corporations make their billions by sending bread winner jobs to countries like china..."
Â
You mean like Fiat planning to make Jeep Wranglers in China and not here? Romney was right.
Â
Yes, they will still be made here but I guess opening a new production line in China to produce the Jeep Wrang-Chung is hunky dory because shut up.
 @Getov Mylon Seems like anything a company does to get ahead is deemed "bad" and looked down upon by those who won't work for a living.
 @JeepRex Yes, I know. When companies of Bain Capital did the same thing, it was the work of the Anti-Christ, but now? Meh...
 @Getov Mylon A little correction for ya... The Jeeps produced overseas cannot and will not be sold here in the U.S. They are for the overseas market only.
 @DT I hardly consider a job at McDonalds a career.
 @JeepRex I didn't say mine was but there are people who either have no skill or choose not get new ones to rise above low paying jobs.  Either way McDonalds may be what they can do.  Are you suggesting anyone working at McDonalds or the like should be considered unemployed cause those aren't careers?
 @APenny4MyThoughts If your aspirations is to flip burgers for life and live in your parents basement, then you need a reality check.
 @JeepRex  @DT If McDonalds is all a job seeker is qualified for then it could be their career.
 @DT  @Smashquail "The Employment Security Department cautions that the recent drops in unemployment can be tied. in part, to unemployed job seekers who have stopped looking for work."
Â
Yeah, we'll just ignore that little factoid. It doesn't fit the "narrative."
 @DT  @SmashquailÂ
Sounds great to me. There should be a huge drop in people screaming for more welfare now. They can go to work in this heating up job market.