Kennewick-Richland, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kennewick rose 0.4 percentage points in February 2019 to 5.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Kennewick peaked in April 2012 at 9.6% and is now 3.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Kennewick 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
Kennewick	5.8%	+0.4	+0.2

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: Kennewick, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kennewick, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kennewick peaked in May 2012 at 12,695. There are now 4,243 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,145 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,307. Kennewick employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kennewick, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Kennewick	8,452	+688	+691

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kennewick, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Kennewick Unemployment Rate	Kennewick Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.6%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.5%	5.8%	8,452
January 2019	4.0%	4.5%	5.4%	7,764
December 2018	3.9%	4.5%	5.4%	7,670
November 2018	3.7%	4.5%	5.2%	7,412
October 2018	3.8%	4.4%	5.2%	7,268
September 2018	3.7%	4.4%	5.1%	7,145
August 2018	3.8%	4.4%	5.3%	7,312
July 2018	3.9%	4.4%	5.4%	7,535
June 2018	4.0%	4.4%	5.6%	7,797
May 2018	3.8%	4.5%	5.6%	7,821
April 2018	3.9%	4.5%	5.8%	8,110