Olympia – The Washington Employment Security Department reported that the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.8% in September, creating a three‑month streak of declining unemployment rates. While the headline number is encouraging, the agency also noted an estimated loss of 15,400 jobs during the same period.
Why the rate fell
Chief labor economist Anneliese Vance‑Sherman explained that the dip reflects both a reduction in the number of people actively seeking work and a smaller overall labor force. ‘The falling unemployment rate is partially a reflection of a decreasing number of unemployed workers over the past few months, but it also reflects an overall reduction in the size of the labor force,’ she said.
Job losses by sector
Non‑farm employment declined, with the biggest seasonally adjusted drops occurring in government and education and health services. Compared with September 2025, Washington added only 9,200 jobs – a modest 0.3% gain. Private employers shed roughly 5,000 positions, while the public sector lost about 10,400 jobs.
The private‑sector gains that did occur were concentrated in professional and business services, construction, and information industries. Conversely, the deepest losses were seen in government, private education and health services, transportation, warehousing and utilities, and manufacturing.
Unemployment numbers and labor‑force trends
Statewide, the number of unemployed individuals fell from 197,389 in August 2026 to 193,018 in September. In the Seattle‑Bellevue‑Everett corridor, unemployment dropped from 113,550 to 111,986.
Washington’s labor force stood at 4,045,430 in September, down by 11,562 people from the same month a year earlier. The department reported that 57,685 people received unemployment benefits in September, 2,271 fewer than the previous month, with the biggest declines in claims from health care and social assistance, agriculture, and administrative and support services.
National context
Nationally, the unemployment rate rose slightly from 4.1% in August to 4.2% in September 2026. The revised national rate for September 2025 was 4.4%, indicating that Washington’s labor market remains more resilient than the broader U.S. picture.
What’s next
The department cautioned that September’s job totals are preliminary. County‑level estimates are scheduled for release on Tuesday, October 20, which will provide a clearer picture of regional variations across the state.
For Washington families and businesses, the lower unemployment rate offers a hopeful sign of economic stability, even as certain sectors continue to adjust. Community leaders are encouraged to monitor upcoming county data and support workforce development initiatives that can help offset sector‑specific losses.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
