Kennewick-Richland, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kennewick fell 0.0 percentage points in August 2019 to 5.9%. 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 June 2012 at 9.7% and is now 3.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.4% in June 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Kennewick unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.1
Washington	4.6%	0.0	+0.2
Kennewick	5.9%	0.0	+0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with August 2019 data as September 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 June 2012 at 12,736. There are now 4,066 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,567 in August 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,103. Kennewick employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kennewick, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Kennewick	8,670	+109	+1,103

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kennewick, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Kennewick Unemployment Rate	Kennewick Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	4.6%	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	4.6%	5.9%	8,670
July 2019	3.7%	4.6%	5.9%	8,561
June 2019	3.7%	4.6%	5.8%	8,483
May 2019	3.6%	4.6%	5.8%	8,404
April 2019	3.6%	4.7%	5.8%	8,415
March 2019	3.8%	4.6%	5.7%	8,256
February 2019	3.8%	4.5%	5.5%	7,907
January 2019	4.0%	4.5%	5.4%	7,671
December 2018	3.9%	4.5%	5.4%	7,655
November 2018	3.7%	4.5%	5.4%	7,652
October 2018	3.8%	4.4%	5.4%	7,626