June 15, 2011 in Business, City

Employment fell in Washington in May

Bert Caldwell The Spokesman-Review

Read more business news at the Office Hoursblog.

Employment in Washington fell by 700 in May, the first decline after eight months of increases, the Employment Security Department reported today.

Despite the reduction, the unemployment rate declined to 9.1 percent from a revised 9.2 percent for April. The April rate was initially pegged at 9.1 percent.

The leisure and hospitality industry added 3,200 jobs, and government employment increased by 200, the first gain in several months.

Wholesale trade declined by 2,100, and retail trade 1,600.

11 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

hawken on June 15 at 1:51 p.m.
So Bert, please tell us how the state arrives at these numbers.
At the federal level, government says we have 9% unemployment using the best numbers possible.
Meanwhile, the real, federal, unemployment number is 15.8%, U6 unemployment.
Since WA unemployment is virtually the same as the reported, federal numbers, one could reasonably conclude that WA, U6 unemployment is likewise 15.8%.
However, over the years, I’ve learned not to assume that anything government tells us, should automatically, be considered to be factual.
johnclarke on June 15 at 2:12 p.m.
And you can help out by getting a job.
RedCedar on June 15 at 2:15 p.m.
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let’s sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again
nslopeofw on June 15 at 2:23 p.m.
Probably why christine isnt going for a third term. Next month will probably plunge.
WHS on June 15 at 3:58 p.m.
cherry picker is at it again.
U6 is the unemployment calculation that includes people who have part time jobs, but want full time.
However, it is the m.o. of the radical right, to find ways to make things worse than really are… Anything to make this country look bad is what they are really about.
Although, to go from 9.2 to 9.1 is truly not that good… It’s the right direction, but still pretty weak. Hopefully, things will continue to improve and that all these businesses that posting record profits will start hiring.
WHS
johnclarke on June 15 at 4:34 p.m.
What calculation do you use for 17 year old professional nonsense posters looking for summer jobs ?
detroitdude on June 15 at 5:32 p.m.
I’d bet….
That if they just let the Bush tax cuts expire, no increase in taxes, the economy WOULD begin to rebound. All the conservatives should THANK President Obama for extending the cuts another year. And you all revile this guy, he is seriously Bush lite with a (D) behind his name.
Orange on June 15 at 7:52 p.m.
Johnclarke, lets hear your input about the story.
nslopeofw on June 15 at 9:59 p.m.
Yeah, lets make the people that pay between 25% and 35% income tax pay even more, But those who pay 10% to zero will keep on getting all the government services. Sounds fair to me….not!
WHS on June 16 at 6:26 a.m.
nslopeofw, and just who are those people that pay between 25 & 30% income tax? Oh yeah! That’s me, the middle class, the working man, the tax payer. And those who pay 10 - 0%, well let’s see… The working poor, nope, they still pay. Ah, the unemployed… of course, if they are collecting unemployment then that will move them back up… Perhaps you are talking about the poor poor… Yeah, that I can see. Oh’ and what about the rich. Yup, they fit into that 10-0% bracket. Ooh ooh, we can’t forget the corporations! Many of them are even in the black when it comes to taxes. I beleive it was GE that got back more in refunds than they actually paid in taxes… Amazing.
Thanks for bringing that up.
WHS
nslopeofw on June 16 at 11:46 p.m.
WHS-
I pay that percent, too. But your buddy Obama and your liberal friends think i’m rich, and would like to tax me more. I dont think i need my taxes raised. I dont get any services like welfare, free medical, mortgage, utility, etc., assistance, yet i pay for those services. All the while, those who do use them dont pay for them. How is that fair?
Lets look at it another way………35% of $100,000=$35,000. 5% of $20,000=$1000. $35K vs. $1K and the person paying $1K gets all the benefits. WOW, what a deal. A deal they never have to pay back.
Far as i know, corporations are not getting food stamps, free medical, and housing assistance. But, since you brought it up, GE and Obama have a special relationship, with Obama giving “Jeffery Immelt GE CEO a job as the head the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Mr. Obama’s choice of Immelt came under scrutiny Friday in the wake of a front-page story in the New York Times reporting that despite $14.2 billion in worldwide profits - including more than $5 billion from U.S. operations - GE did not owe taxes in 2010”
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20047212-503544.html#ixzz1PVrkva8y
Are those the deals you are referring to?
Obama wants to have his cake, eat it, and hose the people who have been successful. What a guy!!