Olympia-Tumwater, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Olympia rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2018 to 4.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Olympia peaked in January 2010 at 9.4% and is now 4.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.4% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Olympia unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Washington	4.3%	-0.1	-0.4
Olympia	4.5%	+0.1	-0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Olympia, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Olympia, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Olympia peaked in March 2010 at 12,080. There are now 5,835 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,057 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 188. Olympia employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Olympia, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Olympia	6,245	+188	-505

Number of Unemployed Persons

Olympia, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Olympia Unemployment Rate	Olympia Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	4.3%	4.5%	6,245
September 2018	3.7%	4.4%	4.4%	6,057
August 2018	3.9%	4.5%	4.5%	6,169
July 2018	3.9%	4.6%	4.6%	6,294
June 2018	4.0%	4.7%	4.8%	6,580
May 2018	3.8%	4.7%	4.9%	6,637
April 2018	3.9%	4.8%	5.1%	6,863
March 2018	4.1%	4.7%	5.1%	6,826
February 2018	4.1%	4.7%	5.0%	6,706
January 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.9%	6,652
December 2017	4.1%	4.7%	5.0%	6,792