Washington’s economy increased by an estimated 10,900 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in June 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%.
“Job growth in June was the strongest we’ve seen since January 2025,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department. “Employment was boosted by gains in several sectors including leisure and hospitality, government and information.”
In the past 12 months, the state gained 1,900 jobs — a 0.05% increase. See the total jobs chart in this news release for detailed information.
In June, employers in the private sector collectively added 6,300 jobs while the public sector shed an estimated 4,600 jobs over the year. The largest one-month sector level gains in private industry were in leisure and hospitality (up 7,400), information (up 1,900) and construction (up 1,000).
Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 62,306 people in June, a decrease of 3,091 over the previous month. Decreases in paid claims in construction, agriculture and manufacturing contributed to the lower number.
Learn more about Employment Security’s monthly employment reports
Every month, the Employment Security Department publishes preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates for the previous month’s job changes and unemployment. The agency also publishes confirmed data for the month before last. Find the entire Monthly Employment Report, publication schedule, and more labor market information and tools on the Employment Security website.
May 2025 revisions
- The estimated increase of 400 jobs was revised to an increase of 800 jobs.
- The seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment remained at 4.5%.
National unemployment rate
The national unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1% from May 2025 to June 2025. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for June 2024 was 4.1%.
Labor force showed little change
From May 2025 to June 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased from 180,997 to 180,735. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed decreased from 102,779 to 102,135 during the same period.
The state’s labor force in June was 4,033,538 – a decrease of 8,557 people from the previous month. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 8,091 people during the same period.
Labor force is defined as the number of employed and unemployed people over the age of 16. Layoffs and labor force participation are not necessarily connected. When people are laid off but still seeking work, they remain a part of the labor force. A drop in the labor force means people have left work and haven’t been seeking employment for more than four weeks.
Six major industry sectors expanded, seven contracted over the year
Private sector employment increased by 6,100 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025. Government employment decreased by 4,200 during the same time.
The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 14,900 jobs); transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 7,000) and information (up 4,800).
- Education and health services employment gains were primarily attributable to hiring in health and social services. Within that sector, social assistance added the most jobs (6,100).
- The deepest one-year sector losses were observed in construction (down 9,800) and manufacturing (down 5,000).
- Losses in construction were predominately attributable to specialty trade contractors (down 7,800).
Annual employment growth appears in public and private industries
Washington businesses added an estimated 1,900 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025 (not seasonally adjusted). During that time, private sector employment increased by 0.2%, or 6,100 jobs. Public sector employment decreased 0.7%, or an estimated decrease of 4,200 jobs.
The two private industry sectors with the largest employment gains compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted) were:
- Education and health services, up 14,900 jobs.
- Transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 7,000 jobs.
Construction showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 9,800.
Table 1: Washington’s total jobs (12-month overview)
| Month | Total jobs (losses or gains) | Unemployment rate | Previous year’s unemployment rate |
| June 2025 | +10,900 | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| May 2025 | +800* | 4.5%* | 4.6%* |
| April 2025 | -9,400* | 4.4%* | 4.6%* |
| March 2025 | -1,300* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| February 2025 | -7,400* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| January 2025 | 0* | 4.3%* | 4.6% |
| December 2024 | +17,900* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| November 2024 | +29,400* | 4.4%* | 4.5% |
| October 2024 | -53,200* | 4.4%* | 4.5% |
| September 2024 | +4,800* | 4.4%* | 4.3% |
| August 2024 | +4,300* | 4.5%* | 4.2% |
| July 2024 | +5,100* | 4.5%* | 4.1% |
| June 2024 | +5,700* | 4.5%* | 4.0% |
*Revised from previous preliminary estimates. Preliminary monthly estimates for job losses or?gains are based on a small Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll survey. Actual figures reported the following month are based on a more complete survey.?
Table 2: June job gains and losses by industry
| Industry sector | Job gains, losses |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 7,400 |
| Government | 4,600 |
| Information | 1,900 |
| Construction | 1,000 |
| Manufacturing | 1,000 |
| Other services | 600 |
| Wholesale Trade | 400 |
| Mining and Logging | 0 |
| Education and Health Services | -100 |
| Financial Activities | -500 |
| Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities | -1,000 |
| Retail Trade | -2,200 |
| Professional and Business Services | -2,200 |