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Washington and U.S.
Unemployment Rates

Year	Unemployment Rate
	Washington	U.S.
2006	5.0%	4.6%
2005	5.5%	5.1%
2004	6.3%	5.5%
2003	7.4%	6.0%
2002	7.3%	5.8%
2001	6.2%	4.7%
2000	5.0%	4.0%
1999	4.7%	4.2%
1998	4.8%	4.5%
1997	4.8%	4.9%
1996	6.5%	5.4%
1995	6.4%	5.6%
1994	6.4%	6.1%
1993	7.6%	6.9%
1992	7.6%	7.5%
1991	6.4%	6.8%
1990	4.9%	5.6%

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Unemployment Rate

1970-2006

• Historically, the unemployment rate in Washington has been higher than the U.S. average, due mainly to a relatively high concentration of resource-based industries in the state.
• Change in Washington unemployment rates has tracked closely with the U.S. trend, but the difference between the state and the U.S. rates usually widens during the economic downturns.

Data Source:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Last modified: May 24, 2007
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
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