Department of Numbers

Olympia-Tumwater, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Olympia fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Olympia peaked in April 2020 at 16.2% and is now 12.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Olympia unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Washington 3.6% 0.0 -0.8
Olympia 3.5% 0.0 -1.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October 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 24,824. There are now 19,424 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Olympia employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Olympia, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Olympia 5,400 -14 -1,808

Number of Unemployed Persons

Olympia, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Olympia
Unemployment Rate
Olympia
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.8%
September
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.5% 5,400
August
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.5% 5,414
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.6% 5,481
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 3.8% 5,851
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 4.2% 6,459
April
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.6% 7,047
March
2023
3.5% 4.5% 4.9% 7,402
February
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.0% 7,549
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 4.9% 7,324
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 4.9% 7,309
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.9% 7,329

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.