Yakima, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Yakima rose 0.1 percentage points in August 2019 to 7.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.9 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Yakima peaked in March 2012 at 11.0% and is now 3.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.2% in December 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.3 percentage points. You can also compare Yakima unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.1
Washington	4.6%	0.0	+0.2
Yakima	7.5%	+0.1	+1.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with August 2019 data as September metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Yakima, Washington, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Yakima, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Yakima peaked in March 2010 at 13,348. There are now 3,402 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,894 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,052. Yakima employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Yakima, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Yakima	9,946	+71	+1,722

Number of Unemployed Persons

Yakima, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Yakima Unemployment Rate	Yakima Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	4.6%	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	4.6%	7.5%	9,946
July 2019	3.7%	4.6%	7.4%	9,875
June 2019	3.7%	4.6%	7.4%	9,802
May 2019	3.6%	4.6%	7.3%	9,678
April 2019	3.6%	4.7%	7.2%	9,587
March 2019	3.8%	4.6%	7.1%	9,343
February 2019	3.8%	4.5%	6.8%	8,888
January 2019	4.0%	4.5%	6.5%	8,529
December 2018	3.9%	4.5%	6.4%	8,366
November 2018	3.7%	4.5%	6.4%	8,370
October 2018	3.8%	4.4%	6.4%	8,352