Washington state unemployment rate remains at 4.5%

OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy increased by an estimated 10,900 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in
June 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%.

“Job growth in June was the strongest we’ve seen since January 2025,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman,
chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department. “Employment was boosted by gains in
several sectors including leisure and hospitality, government and information.”

In the past 12 months, the state gained 1,900 jobs — a 0.05% increase. See the total jobs chart in this
news release for detailed information.

In June, employers in the private sector collectively added 6,300 jobs while the public sector shed an
estimated 4,600 jobs over the year. The largest one-month sector level gains in private industry were
n leisure and hospitality (up 7,400), information (up 1,900) and construction (up 1,000).   

Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 62,306 people in June, a decrease of 3,091 over
the previous month. Decreases in paid claims in construction, agriculture and manufacturing contributed
to the lower number.

Learn more about Employment Security's monthly employment reports

Every month, the Employment Security Department publishes preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates
for the previous month’s job changes and unemployment. The agency also publishes confirmed data for
the month before last. Find the entire Monthly Employment Report, publication schedule, and more labor
market information and tools on the Employment Security website.

May 2025 revisions

• The estimated increase of 400 jobs was revised to an increase of 800 jobs.
• The seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment remained at 4.5%.

National unemployment rate

The national unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1% from May 2025 to June 2025. For comparison,
the national unemployment rate (revised) for June 2024 was 4.1%.

Labor force showed little change

From May 2025 to June 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased from
180,997 to 180,735. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed
decreased from 102,779 to 102,135 during the same period.

The state’s labor force in June was 4,033,538 – a decrease of 8,557 people from the previous month.
In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 8,091 people during the same period.

Labor force is defined as the number of employed and unemployed people over the age of 16. Layoffs
and labor force participation are not necessarily connected. When people are laid off but still seeking
work, they remain a part of the labor force. A drop in the labor force means people have left work and
haven't been seeking employment for more than four weeks.

Six major industry sectors expanded, seven contracted over the year

Private sector employment increased by 6,100 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025. Government
employment decreased by 4,200 during the same time.

The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services
(up 14,900 jobs); transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 7,000) and information (up 4,800).

• Education and health services employment gains were primarily attributable to hiring in health
• and social services. Within that sector, social assistance added the most jobs (6,100).
• The deepest one-year sector losses were observed in construction (down 9,800) and
• anufacturing (down 5,000).
• Losses in construction were predominately attributable to specialty trade contractors (down 7,800).

Annual employment growth appears in public and private industries

Washington businesses added an estimated 1,900 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025 (not seasonally
adjusted). During that time, private sector employment increased by 0.2%, or 6,100 jobs. Public sector
employment decreased 0.7%, or an estimated decrease of 4,200 jobs.

The two private industry sectors with the largest employment gains compared with the same period
last year (not seasonally adjusted) were:

• Education and health services, up 14,900 jobs.
• Transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 7,000 jobs.

Construction showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year
(not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 9,800.

Table 1: Washington’s total jobs (12-month overview)

*Revised from previous preliminary estimates. Preliminary monthly estimates for job losses or 
gains are based on a small Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll survey. Actual figures reported the
following month are based on a more complete survey. 

Table 2: June job gains and losses by industry