Department of Numbers

Olympia-Tumwater, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Olympia rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 4.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Olympia peaked in April 2020 at 16.0% and is now 11.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Olympia 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
Olympia 4.6% +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: Olympia, Washington, National

Olympia, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Olympia, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Olympia peaked in April 2020 at 25,017. There are now 18,265 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,205 in October 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 547. Olympia employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Olympia, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Olympia 6,752 +196 +270

Number of Unemployed Persons

Olympia, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Olympia
Unemployment Rate
Olympia
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 4.6% 6,752
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 4.5% 6,556
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.4% 6,389
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 4.2% 6,205
September
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.2% 6,215
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.3% 6,301
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.2% 6,295
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.4% 6,507
May
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.4% 6,502
April
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.3% 6,466
March
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.4% 6,489

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.