Washington state’s private sector gained 9,800 jobs in October, while the state’s public sector shed 2,900 jobs for a net gain of 6,900 jobs, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
Despite the job growth, the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.2 percent for the second month in a row, according to estimates by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This month’s report showed the highest job growth in the retail trade (+2,600) and professional and business services (+2,400) industries. Education and health services and construction also saw gains of 2,100 and 2,000 new jobs respectively.
The manufacturing and financial activities industries faced losses of 1,700 and 700 respectively.
Year-over-year, the top five industry sectors with the largest employment gains (October 2014 to October 2015), not seasonally adjusted, were:
- Professional and business services (+14,900 jobs)
- Retail trade (+13,400 jobs)
- Government (+13,000 jobs)
- Leisure and hospitality (+11,700 jobs)
- Construction (+ 10,300 jobs)
To view ESD’s full monthly employment report, click here.
