OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 1,500 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in November 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.6%.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) did not collect October labor force information during the six-week federal government shutdown. Shifts in labor force information including the unemployment rate reference the shift from September to November 2025. The BLS was able to construct and make October payroll estimates available. The regular schedule for publication should resume with the December 2025 report.
“Job growth in November dipped following a slight increase in October. The labor market throughout 2025 has shown signs of weakening.” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department. “The unemployment rate ticked up from 4.5% where it has been from May through September to 4.6%.
From November 2024 to November 2025, the number of jobs in Washington increased by 1,500 jobs – a less than 0.1% increase. See the total jobs chart in this news release for detailed information.
In November, employers in the private sector collectively lost 6,600 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 in education and health services (up 2,400) and leisure and hospitality (up 2,100).
Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 68,488 people in November, an increase of 7,079 from the previous month. Increases in construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services contributed to the month over month increase.
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.
National unemployment rate
The national unemployment rate increased from 4.4% to 4.6% from September 2025 to November 2025. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for November 2024 was 4.2%.
Labor force showed little change
From September 2025 to November 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide increased from 181,929 to 186,422. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed increased from 101,529 to 106,411 during the same time.
The state’s labor force in November was 4,054,411 – a decrease of 8,499 people from the previous November. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 18,156 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.
Five major industry sectors expanded, eight contracted over the year
Private sector employment increased by 6,100 jobs from November 2024 to November 2025. Government employment decreased by 4,600 during the same time.
The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 18,700 jobs); transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 5,300); and retail trade (up 2,600).
- Education and health services employment gains were primarily due to hiring in health and social services. Within that sector, ambulatory health care services added the most jobs (9,000).
- The deepest one-year sector losses were observed in manufacturing (down 6,400), wholesale trade (down 4,700) and construction (down 4,600).
- Losses in manufacturing were most pronounced in food manufacturing (down 2,200).
Annual employment in public and private industries
Washington businesses collectively added an estimated 1,500 jobs from November 2024 to November 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 4,600 jobs.
The three private industry sectors with the largest employment gains compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted) were:
- Education and health services, up 9,000 jobs.
- Transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 5,300 jobs.
- Retail trade, up 2,600 jobs.
Manufacturing showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 6,400.
Table 1: Washington’s total jobs (12-month overview)
| Month | Total jobs (losses or gains) | Unemployment rate | Previous year’s unemployment rate |
| November 2025 | -1,500 | 4.6% | 4.2% |
| October 2025 | +2,300 | N.A. | N.A. |
| September 2025 | -15,400* | 4.5% | 4.4% |
| August 2025 | -10,300* | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| July 2025 | +8,900* | 4.5%* | 4.5% |
| June 2025 | +700* | 4.5%* | 4.5% |
| May 2025 | +10,400* | 4.5%* | 4.6%* |
| April 2025 | +8,600* | 4.4%* | 4.6%* |
| March 2025 | -2,800* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| February 2025 | -6,600* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| January 2025 | -7,500* | 4.3%* | 4.6% |
| December 2024 | +18,700* | 4.4%* | 4.6% |
| November 2024 | +30,500* | 4.4%* | 4.5% |
*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: September job gains and losses by industry
| Industry sector | Job gains, losses |
| Education and health services | +2,400 |
| Leisure and hospitality | +2,100 |
| Government | +1,500 |
| Mining and logging | 100 |
| Professional and business services | -300 |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | -300 |
| Other services | -300 |
| Financial activities | -400 |
| Information | -700 |
| Wholesale trade | -700 |
| Manufacturing | -2,000 |
| Retail trade | -2,400 |
| Construction | -4,100 |
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