From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...: Payroll Jobs, Labor Force Up In Washington, Unemployment Down

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Payroll Jobs, Labor Force Up In Washington, Unemployment Down

April 23, 2004

The Bureau of Labor Statistics just today released state-by-state March numbers on non-farm payroll jobs, labor force size, and unemployment rates. These come following data reported earlier this month, that nationally, a strong 308,000 non-farm payroll jobs were added in March.

You'll have to scroll down alphabetically to see, but in Washington, non-farm payroll jobs increased by a modest 8,700 last month. The figures are preliminary.

March payroll employment in Washington was up in construction, trade/transportation/utilities, the financial sector, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and government. It was down in manufacturing.

The labor force continued to grow in Washington, while unemployment continued to drop.

I'll look forward to the next data sets from the government's Household Survey, which includes non-payroll jobs.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 23, 2004 12:19 PM

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Comments:

I have to wonder if the Washington stats are skewed by people on unemployment who aren't even looking for a job.

I hear the unemployment in Washington is fairly generous. I know someone who was getting almost as much as he made at the job he was laid off from. He didn't start looking for a year. I know another who didn't look for a job for 8 months. I had even given her a lead for a job she was perfect for about two weeks after she was laid off. She laughed at me and said she was just going to collect unemployment for a while.

When I lived in Arizona, I got laid off and went to apply for unemployment. I was told I was qualified to receive the highest amount. It was $198 a week. My rent was $575. You do the math.
Needless to say, I tried to get a new job as quickly as I could and I found one. And it paid $2 an hour less than I was making before. But it was better than unemployment.

I would be curious to know how Arizona stacks up against Washington in how quickly people get back to work after being laid off, and how the benefits compare.

Posted by: Ken J at April 23, 2004 01:27 PM

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