Yakima, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Yakima rose 0.7 percentage points in February 2019 to 7.4%. 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 April 2012 at 11.1% and is now 3.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.0% in November 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.4 percentage points. You can also compare Yakima unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Washington	4.5%	0.0	-0.1
Yakima	7.4%	+0.7	+1.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 13,512. There are now 3,596 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,662 in December 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,254. Yakima employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Yakima, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Yakima	9,916	+864	+1,869

Number of Unemployed Persons

Yakima, Washington Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Washington Unemployment Rate	Yakima Unemployment Rate	Yakima Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.6%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.5%	7.4%	9,916
January 2019	4.0%	4.5%	6.7%	9,052
December 2018	3.9%	4.5%	6.3%	8,563
November 2018	3.7%	4.5%	6.3%	8,467
October 2018	3.8%	4.4%	6.2%	8,112
September 2018	3.7%	4.4%	6.0%	7,705
August 2018	3.8%	4.4%	6.0%	7,690
July 2018	3.9%	4.4%	6.2%	8,053
June 2018	4.0%	4.4%	6.4%	8,233
May 2018	3.8%	4.5%	6.3%	8,186
April 2018	3.9%	4.5%	6.5%	8,371