Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Seattle rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2018 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Seattle peaked in January 2010 at 10.1% and is now 6.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.6% in August 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Seattle 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
Seattle	3.7%	+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: Seattle, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Seattle, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Seattle peaked in February 2010 at 191,391. There are now 113,867 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 75,151 in August 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,373. Seattle employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Seattle, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Seattle	77,524	+435	-9,418

Number of Unemployed Persons

Seattle, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Seattle Unemployment Rate	Seattle Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	4.3%	3.7%	77,524
September 2018	3.7%	4.4%	3.6%	77,089
August 2018	3.9%	4.5%	3.6%	75,151
July 2018	3.9%	4.6%	3.7%	77,964
June 2018	4.0%	4.7%	3.8%	80,559
May 2018	3.8%	4.7%	3.9%	81,737
April 2018	3.9%	4.8%	3.9%	82,227
March 2018	4.1%	4.7%	3.8%	80,964
February 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.1%	87,361
January 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.4%	92,110
December 2017	4.1%	4.7%	4.2%	87,880