Department of Numbers

Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Spokane fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Spokane peaked in April 2020 at 15.9% and is now 12.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Spokane 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
Spokane 3.9% 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: 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 47,435. There are now 36,118 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Spokane 11,317 -180 -3,763

Number of Unemployed Persons

Spokane, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Spokane
Unemployment Rate
Spokane
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.8%
September
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.9% 11,317
August
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.9% 11,497
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 4.1% 11,917
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 4.3% 12,679
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 4.7% 13,884
April
2023
3.4% 4.3% 5.1% 14,997
March
2023
3.5% 4.5% 5.4% 15,731
February
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.6% 16,196
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 5.5% 15,832
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 5.4% 15,559
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 5.4% 15,598

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.