Department of Numbers

Yakima, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Yakima rose 0.3 percentage points in January 2023 to 6.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.2 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Yakima peaked in April 2020 at 14.4% and is now 7.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.9% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Yakima 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
Yakima 6.8% +0.3 +0.5
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: Yakima, Washington, National

Yakima, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Yakima, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Yakima peaked in April 2020 at 19,911. There are now 10,882 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,796 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,233. Yakima employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Yakima, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Yakima 9,029 +370 +619

Number of Unemployed Persons

Yakima, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Yakima
Unemployment Rate
Yakima
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 6.8% 9,029
December
2022
3.5% 4.5% 6.5% 8,659
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 6.1% 8,141
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 5.9% 7,905
September
2022
3.5% 4.4% 5.9% 7,796
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 5.9% 7,819
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 5.9% 7,939
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 6.1% 8,190
May
2022
3.6% 3.9% 6.1% 8,238
April
2022
3.6% 3.9% 6.1% 8,234
March
2022
3.6% 3.9% 6.2% 8,261

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.