Department of Numbers

Bellingham, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bellingham rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 4.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Bellingham peaked in April 2020 at 17.6% and is now 12.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.4% in September 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Bellingham unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Washington 4.6% +0.1 +0.6
Bellingham 4.8% +0.1 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Bellingham, Washington, National

Bellingham, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bellingham, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bellingham peaked in April 2020 at 22,171. There are now 16,551 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,197 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 423. Bellingham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bellingham, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Bellingham 5,620 +97 -199

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bellingham, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Bellingham
Unemployment Rate
Bellingham
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 4.8% 5,620
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 4.7% 5,523
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.6% 5,360
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 4.5% 5,209
September
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.4% 5,197
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.5% 5,283
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.5% 5,336
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.7% 5,533
May
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.7% 5,547
April
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.7% 5,537
March
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.8% 5,595

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.