OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state’s unemployment rate is holding at 8.9 percent.
State officials released August’s unemployment figures on Wednesday. While the private sector picked up 900 jobs, the state lost 2,000 jobs overall last month because of the elimination of about 2,900 government jobs.
Other industries that lost jobs were: Transportation, warehousing and utilities; professional and business services; retail trade; construction, and other services.
Several sectors added jobs, including education and health services, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality.
Nearly 311,000 people were unemployed and looking for work last month. More than 235,000 people received unemployment benefits from the state.
