OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s unemployment rate was up to 9.5 percent in December, a half a percentage point increase from the month before.
State officials say more than 334,000 people were unemployed and looking for work last month. November’s unemployment rate, originally reported at 9.2 percent, was later revised down to 9 percent.
Washington has lost more than 106,000 jobs since December 2008, a 3.6 percent decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 3.1 percent during the same time.
