Spokane, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Spokane fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2012 to 8.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Spokane peaked in November 2009 at 10.0% and is now 1.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 8.6% in February 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Spokane unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
Washington	8.3%	0.0	-1.1
Spokane	8.6%	0.0	-0.4

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Spokane, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Spokane, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Spokane peaked in November 2009 at 23,699. There are now 3,764 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 19,893 in February 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 42. Spokane employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Spokane, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Spokane	19,935	+42	-1,103

Number of Unemployed Persons

Spokane, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Spokane Unemployment Rate	Spokane Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	8.1%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	8.3%	8.6%	19,935
February 2012	8.3%	8.3%	8.6%	19,893
January 2012	8.3%	8.4%	8.8%	20,203
December 2011	8.5%	8.6%	9.0%	20,740
November 2011	8.7%	8.7%	9.1%	20,937
October 2011	8.9%	8.9%	9.3%	21,639
September 2011	9.0%	9.0%	9.3%	21,586
August 2011	9.1%	9.2%	9.3%	21,719
July 2011	9.1%	9.3%	9.2%	21,617
June 2011	9.1%	9.3%	9.2%	21,603
May 2011	9.0%	9.3%	9.0%	21,220
April 2011	9.0%	9.3%	9.0%	21,059