Washington and U.S.
Unemployment Rates

Year	Unemployment Rate
	Washington	U.S.
2008	5.3%	5.8%
2007	4.5%	4.6%
2006	4.9%	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	4.8%	4.2%
1998	4.8%	4.5%
1997	4.9%	4.9%
1996	5.9%	5.4%
1995	6.3%	5.6%
1994	6.5%	6.1%
1993	7.1%	6.9%
1992	7.2%	7.5%
1991	6.3%	6.8%
1990	5.1%	5.6%

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Unemployment Rate

1970-2008

• Historically, the unemployment rate in Washington has been higher than the U.S. average, due primarily to a relatively high share of resource-based industries in the state which have more volatile seasonal employment patterns.
• 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.
• The 2000-2003 run-up in jobless rates was a result of the bursting of the Dot-Com bubble in conjunction with the 9/11 recession; this had a more pronounced impact on the Seattle area because of the localized concentration of Dot-Com start-ups and aerospace employment.
• The current jump in unemployment rates is retaliated to the breaking of the housing market/equities/commodities bubble which hit Washington and the nation with similar force.

Data Source:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Last modified: June 8, 2008
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
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