Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 13,600 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in August 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%.
“The period of job growth following the 2020 pandemic recession appears to be cresting. So far, more months in 2025 were characterized by job losses than by job gains,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department.
In the past 12 months, the state lost 5,400 jobs — a 0.1% decrease. See the total jobs chart in this news release for detailed information.
In August, employers in the private sector collectively lost 15,100 jobs while the public sector added an estimated 1,500 jobs over the month. The largest one-month sector-level gains in private industry were observed in education and health services (up 1,100 jobs) and other services (up 600 jobs).
Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 62,375 people in August, a decrease of 1,806 over the previous month. Decreases in paid claims in manufacturing, construction and wholesale trade 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 and publication schedule on the Employment Security website. Also visit the website to find more labor market information.
July 2025 revisions
- The estimated increase of 10,800 jobs was revised to an increase of 11,000 jobs.
- The seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment remained at 4.5%.
National unemployment rate
The national unemployment rate increased from 4.2% in July 2025 to 4.3% in August 2025. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for August 2024 was 4.2%.
Labor force showed little change
From July 2025 to August 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide decreased from 180,851 to 180,450. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed decreased from 100,935 to 100,547 during the same period.
The state’s labor force in August was 4,022,129 – a decrease of 2,671 people from the previous month. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 6,276 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.
Four major industry sectors expanded, nine contracted over the year
Private sector employment increased by 1,400 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025. Government employment decreased by 6,800 during the same time.
The largest sector-level gains in private industry were attributable to hiring in education and health services (up 19,300 jobs); transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 5,200 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (up 4,700 jobs).
- Education and health services employment gains were primarily attributable hiring in health and social services; within that, social assistance added the most jobs (5,400).
- The deepest one-year sector losses were observed in professional and business services (down 18,400) and retail trade (down 3,700).
- Losses in professional and business services were concentrated in the collection of industries making up administrative and support services (down 12,300) with the largest drop evident in employment services.
Annual employment growth appears in public and private industries
Washington businesses shed an estimated 5,400 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 (not seasonally adjusted). During that time, private sector employment increased by 0.1%, or 1,400 jobs. Public sector employment decreased 1.1%, or an estimated decrease of 6,800 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 19,300 jobs.
- Transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 5,200 jobs.
Administrative and support services showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 12,300.
Table 1: Washington’s total jobs (12-month overview)
| Month | Total jobs (losses or gains) | Unemployment rate | Previous year’s unemployment rate |
| August 2025 | -13,600 | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| July 2025 | +11,000* | 4.5%* | 4.5% |
| June 2025 | +12,800* | 4.5%* | 4.5% |
| May 2025 | -100* | 4.5%* | 4.6%* |
| April 2025 | -7,100* | 4.4%* | 4.6%* |
| March 2025 | -2,100* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| February 2025 | -6,700* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| January 2025 | +6,900* | 4.3%* | 4.6% |
| December 2024 | +18,500* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| November 2024 | +29,600* | 4.4%* | 4.5% |
| October 2024 | -62,500* | 4.4%* | 4.5% |
| September 2024 | +4,100* | 4.4%* | 4.3% |
| August 2024 | +4,700* | 4.5%* | 4.2% |
*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: August job gains and losses by industry
| Industry sector | Job gains, losses |
| Government | +1,500 |
| Education and Health Services | +1,100 |
| Other Services | +600 |
| Mining and Logging | 0 |
| Construction | 0 |
| Financial Activities | -300 |
| Wholesale Trade | -1,200 |
| Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities | -1,400 |
| Retail Trade | -1,400 |
| Information | -2,200 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | -3,400 |
| Professional and Business Services | -3,400 |
| Manufacturing | -3,500 |