Bellingham, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bellingham fell 0.0 percentage points in December 2011 to 8.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Bellingham peaked in November 2009 at 9.3% and is now 1.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 8.2% in May 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Bellingham unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Washington	8.5%	-0.2	-0.8
Bellingham	8.3%	0.0	-0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Bellingham, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bellingham, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bellingham peaked in November 2009 at 9,908. There are now 1,323 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,522 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 63. Bellingham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bellingham, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Bellingham	8,585	-31	-767

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bellingham, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	8.5%	8.3%	8,585
November 2011	8.7%	8.7%	8.3%	8,616
October 2011	8.9%	9.1%	8.5%	8,828
September 2011	9.0%	9.2%	8.4%	8,735
August 2011	9.1%	9.3%	8.4%	8,698
July 2011	9.1%	9.3%	8.3%	8,614
June 2011	9.1%	9.3%	8.3%	8,588
May 2011	9.0%	9.1%	8.2%	8,522
April 2011	9.0%	9.2%	8.3%	8,613
March 2011	8.9%	9.2%	8.4%	8,776
February 2011	9.0%	9.1%	8.4%	8,850
January 2011	9.1%	9.2%	8.6%	9,118