Department of Numbers

Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Spokane rose 0.2 percentage points in January 2023 to 5.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Spokane peaked in April 2020 at 15.8% and is now 10.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.4% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Spokane 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
Spokane 5.0% +0.2 +0.3
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: Spokane, Washington, National

Spokane, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Spokane, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Spokane peaked in April 2020 at 48,680. There are now 34,203 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 12,756 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,721.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Spokane 14,477 +502 +1,002

Number of Unemployed Persons

Spokane, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Spokane
Unemployment Rate
Spokane
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 5.0% 14,477
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 4.8% 13,975
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.6% 13,391
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 4.4% 12,856
September
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.4% 12,756
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.4% 12,869
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.4% 12,962
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.5% 13,330
May
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.5% 13,272
April
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.5% 13,103
March
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.5% 13,158

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.