The state’s jobless rate fell to 9 percent from a revised 9.2 percent jobless rate in September; the state created 4,600 jobs in the September-to-October period.
Government added the most jobs in the period, up 4,900, followed by wholesale trade with 3,100 jobs and education and health services with 2,600 jobs.
Professional and business services shed 7,000 jobs, followed by transportation, warehousing and utilities with 1,100 jobs and retail trade, down 1,000.
Other revisions for September show that the state didn’t lose as many jobs as first reported. The state shed 10,700 jobs in September, compared to a preliminary figure of 18,400 jobs. The jobless rate that month was revised to 9.2 percent from 9.1 percent.
Still, more than 300,000 people statewide are still looking for a job. As of Nov. 5, 64,550 job seekers had exhausted their jobless benefits.
Pierce and Thurston County unemployment figures for October, which are not seasonally adjusted, will be released Tuesday. In September, Pierce County’s jobless rate was 9.3 percent and Thurston’s was 8 percent. Both county unemployment rates had fallen from August, Employment Security Data show.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403 rboone@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/bizblog
