Department of Numbers

Walla Walla, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Walla Walla fell 0.3 percentage points in May 2023 to 4.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Walla Walla peaked in April 2020 at 12.3% and is now 7.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in January 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Walla Walla unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Washington 4.1% -0.2 +0.2
Walla Walla 4.4% -0.3 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Walla Walla, Washington, National

Walla Walla, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Walla Walla, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Walla Walla peaked in April 2020 at 4,083. There are now 2,630 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,365 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 88.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Walla Walla 1,453 -88 -15

Number of Unemployed Persons

Walla Walla, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Walla Walla
Unemployment Rate
Walla Walla
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 4.4% 1,453
April
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.7% 1,541
March
2023
3.5% 4.5% 4.8% 1,603
February
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.0% 1,638
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 4.9% 1,611
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 4.9% 1,606
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.9% 1,609
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 4.9% 1,604
September
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.8% 1,579
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.8% 1,550
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.7% 1,520

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.