OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy increased by an estimated 9,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in December 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.7% from 4.6% in November. The monthly employment report covers two datasets: one that documents shifts in the number of jobs, and another that documents shifts in the labor force.
“Job growth in December increased following a drop in November. Labor market growth slowed in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, labor market growth more or less stood still,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist for the Employment Security Department. “We saw a slight increase in the unemployment rate in November and December after it held steady at 4.5% from May to September.”
From December 2024 to December 2025, the number of jobs in Washington decreased by 6,600 jobs – a 0.2% decrease. See the total jobs chart in this news release for detailed information.
In December, private sector jobs collectively increased by 7,700, while the public sector added an estimated 1,300 jobs. The largest one-month sector-level gains in private industry occurred in leisure and hospitality (up 2,900), information (up 2,200), and private education and health services (up 2,100).
Employment Security paid unemployment benefits to 78,870 people in December, an increase of 10,382 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 decreased from 4.5% to 4.4% from November 2025 to December 2025. For comparison, the national unemployment rate (revised) for December 2024 was 4.1%.
Labor force showed little change
From November 2025 to December 2025, the number of people who were unemployed statewide increased from 186,157 to 192,851. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the number of people who were unemployed increased from 106,275 to 111,845 during the same time.
The state’s labor force in December was 4,067,228 – an increase of 3,044 people from the previous December. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region, the labor force decreased by 13,380 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 600 jobs from December 2024 to December 2025. Government employment decreased by 7,200 during the same time.
The largest sector-level gains in private industry were in education and health services (up 17,800 jobs); retail trade (up 2,700); and other services (up1,500).
- 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 (9,600).
- The deepest one-year sector losses were observed in professional and business services (down 7,800), and manufacturing (down 6,400).
- Losses in professional and business services were most pronounced in administrative support roles, notably employment services (down 6,400).
Annual employment in public and private industries
Washington businesses collectively shed an estimated 6,600 jobs from December 2024 to December 2025 (not seasonally adjusted). During that time, private sector employment increased by 0.0%, or 600 jobs. Public sector employment decreased 1.2%, or an estimated decrease of 7,200 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 17,800 jobs.
- Retail trade, up 2,700 jobs.
- Other services, up 1,500 jobs.
Professional and business services showed the biggest employment loss compared with the same period last year (not seasonally adjusted). It contracted by 7,800.
Table 1: Washington’s total jobs (12-month overview)
| Month | Total jobs (losses or gains) | Unemployment rate | Previous year’s unemployment rate |
| December 2025 | +9,000 | 4.7% | 4.4%* |
| 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% |
*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: December job gains and losses by industry
| Industry sector | Job gains, losses |
| Leisure and hospitality | +2,900 |
| Information | +2,200 |
| Private education and health services | +2,100 |
| Retail trade | +1,800 |
| Government | +1,300 |
| Wholesale trade | +600 |
| Construction | +500 |
| Financial activities | +400 |
| Manufacturing | +400 |
| Mining and logging | -100 |
| Other services | -200 |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | -700 |
| Professional and business services | -2,200 |