OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s unemployment rate is holding steady at 9.1 percent, while the rate for Clark County inched higher to 13 percent, up from 12.3 percent in September.
Wednesday’s report from the state Employment Security Department says Washington’s economy added about 1,900 jobs last month. That’s the fifth consecutive month of private job growth in Washington.
The public sector also added about 4,000 jobs, mostly in education.
Professional and business services led the way for private-sector hiring in October. Losses were seen in construction and manufacturing work.
The state says more than 302,000 people were unemployed and looking for work last month. And more than 223,000 were getting unemployment benefits.
October’s job count was about 8,500 lower than a year earlier.