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Washington's job market showing weakness
May 20, 2008
Washington's economy showed further signs of weakening in April, but a state economist estimates that there is no clear evidence the state is following the rest of the country into recession.
The state lost 1,800 nonfarm payroll jobs in April, the second month of declines after a revised 2,300-job drop in March, according to Employment Security Department officials. Several sectors — from construction and wood products to financial services, retail and hospitality — were stung by the nationwide housing slump.
But Washington's unemployment rate, which is derived separately from the nonfarm numbers, fell to 4.7 percent from a downward revised 4.8 percent in March. And the Seattle metro area's jobless rate fell to 3.5 percent, the lowest in the state.
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