Bellingham, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bellingham rose 1.6 percentage points in July 2020 to 12.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.8 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Bellingham peaked in April 2020 at 18.1% and is now 6.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 10.4% in June 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.6 percentage points. You can also compare Bellingham unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	10.2%	-0.9	+6.5
Washington	10.2%	+0.2	+6.0
Bellingham	12.0%	+1.6	+7.0

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2020 data as August 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 April 2020 at 21,558. There are now 7,111 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 12,244 in June 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,203. Bellingham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bellingham, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Bellingham	14,447	+2,203	+8,657

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bellingham, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployed
August 2020	8.4%	8.5%	—	—
July 2020	10.2%	10.2%	12.0%	14,447
June 2020	11.1%	10.0%	10.4%	12,244
May 2020	13.3%	15.1%	16.1%	19,175
April 2020	14.7%	16.3%	18.1%	21,558
March 2020	4.4%	5.1%	4.7%	5,388
February 2020	3.5%	3.8%	4.7%	5,471
January 2020	3.6%	3.9%	4.8%	5,599
December 2019	3.5%	4.0%	4.7%	5,479
November 2019	3.5%	4.0%	4.8%	5,540
October 2019	3.6%	4.0%	4.8%	5,606
September 2019	3.5%	4.1%	4.9%	5,678