Bellingham, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bellingham rose 0.2 percentage points in February 2019 to 5.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Bellingham peaked in February 2010 at 9.9% and is now 4.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.3% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Bellingham unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Washington	4.5%	0.0	-0.1
Bellingham	5.1%	+0.2	+0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 September 2009 at 10,524. There are now 4,664 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,776 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,084. Bellingham employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bellingham, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Bellingham	5,860	+313	+377

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bellingham, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployment Rate	Bellingham Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.6%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.5%	5.1%	5,860
January 2019	4.0%	4.5%	4.9%	5,547
December 2018	3.9%	4.5%	4.9%	5,568
November 2018	3.7%	4.5%	4.7%	5,344
October 2018	3.8%	4.4%	4.4%	4,969
September 2018	3.7%	4.4%	4.3%	4,776
August 2018	3.8%	4.4%	4.5%	4,977
July 2018	3.9%	4.4%	4.5%	5,032
June 2018	4.0%	4.4%	4.7%	5,214
May 2018	3.8%	4.5%	4.7%	5,222
April 2018	3.9%	4.5%	4.9%	5,464