Unemployment

Washington unemployment up, but construction shows signs of life

Austin Jenkins — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:00:08 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington’s idled construction industry continued to show signs of life in August. Nonetheless, the state’s jobless rate still rose slightly. Overall Washington lost 1,100 jobs last month. The new unemployment rate announced Wednesday is 8.6 percent -– up a tenth of a percent from July.

Construction was one of the bright spots. That hard-hit sector added nearly 2,000 jobs in August.

Washington wages outpaced inflation last year

Dave Meyer — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:05:25 +0000

The average annual wage in Washington grew by 3.6% in 2011.

The state Employment Security Department says wages outpaced inflation by 0.9 percentage points.

The average annual salary in Washington was $49,894 last year, up from $48,162 in 2010.

Washington jobs picture brightens, but unemployment up too

Tom Banse — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:49:31 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The latest jobs report for Washington state contains a paradox. It shows strong job growth in the private sector. But at the same time, the state unemployment rate also rose.

Washington's Employment Department Wednesday reported a May jobless rate of 8.3 percent, up slightly from the revised 8.2 percent rate of April.

State labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman said in a conference call that the higher unemployment rate was caused primarily by once-discouraged workers resuming their job hunts.

"This could be a good sign," she said.

Washington's unemployment rate continues slow drop

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:10:30 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington’s jobless rate continues to inch downward. The April numbers out Wednesday put unemployment at 8.1 percent . That’s down from 8.3 percent in March. Most of April’s job growth was in manufacturing.

State economist Dave Wallace says so far 2012 is proving to be a recovery year in Washington.

Why is the 'Boeing Bust' still with us?

Katherine Banwell — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:20:50 +0000

Maybe you’ve heard the line, "Will the last person leaving Seattle turn out the lights." That well-worn phrase came from a billboard in 1971 as the Boeing Company stalled and then fell into a tailspin.

And while the "Boeing Bust" happened a long time ago, that economic slump, almost as much as the most recent one, is still a part of our collective consciousness.

Why does it still resonate all these years later?

The secret to Germany's low youth unemployment; answers for Washington?

Eric Westervelt — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:47:46 +0000

For as long as he can remember, German teenager Robin Dittmar has been obsessed with airplanes. As a little boy, the sound of a plane overhead would send him into the backyard to peer into the sky. Toys had to have wings. Even today, Dittmar sees his car as a kind of ersatz Boeing.

"I've got the number 747 as the number plate of my car. I'm really in love with this airplane," the 18-year-old says.

Extended unemployment benefits ending in Washington and Oregon

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:11:02 +0000
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Thousands of long-term unemployed workers in Washington and Oregon will soon no longer receive unemployment checks. The federal government won't pay for extended benefits anymore because the jobless rates have improved in both states.
Washington and Oregon's employment departments announced that one emergency unemployment program is being curtailed and another is being shut down completely this month.

Federal lab, PNNL, in Richland to lay off 45

The Associated Press — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:21:58 +0000

RICHLAND, Wash. — The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory plans to lay off 45 employees this week.
The cutbacks are in order to adjust to the latest federal budget approved in December.

Economy does seems brighter to some Seattleites

Paula Wissel — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:53:03 +0000

The unemployment rate is at its lowest level in three years. The stock market is up. But, are you feeling better about the economy?
Maybe it was the economic news. Maybe it was the sun coming out for the first time in a while, but most people we talked to on the streets of downtown Seattle this afternoon said they were feeling positive.

Laid-off, then hired back by the state of Washington

Austin Jenkins — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:20:08 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The number of people who are out of work in Washington is falling. It’s a sign the economy is recovering – albeit slowly. But it’s only been in the last two months that the government sector has started hiring again.

Some 2-year degrees trump bachelor's degrees for jobs, income

Charla Bear — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:53:15 +0000

We've heard a lot of stories lately about the struggles of young, unemployed people with college degrees. A Washington State agency says the reason for that is a lot of students are choosing the wrong majors for this economy.
If they spent less time and money on school, they might have an easier time getting a job and make more money, at least in the short term.

Washington job growth reaches four year high

Northwest News Network — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:31:24 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington added more than 12,000 jobs in November. That drops the state unemployment rate to 8.7 percent.
In fact, employment statistics released Wednesday show that job growth has reached a four-year high in Washington.

State launches 'jobs for graduates' effort to help dropouts

Charla Bear — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:27:48 +0000

The unemployment rate for teens and young adults in Washington is one of the highest in the nation – and it’s especially tough on high school dropouts. That’s why state education leaders are trying to ramp up an effort to help students get diplomas and jobs or college placements at the same time.

Senator Murray touts new jobs legislation

Vanessa Romo — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:20:24 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-982515.mp3
It seems like everyone is talking about the J word lately. That would be JOBS. The President was on the road in the Midwest talking about them this week.
Now Democratic Senator Patty Murray spent a couple hours at a local Seattle factory talking about how to keep them, how to create them and how to train people for them.

Washington jobless who exhausted benefits still lack work

The Associated Press — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:19:58 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thousands of Washington workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits still do not have jobs.
An Employment Security Department report released Thursday shows that 75 percent of people who have run out of benefits since November 2009 are still out of work.