Whatcom County’s unemployment rate increases, following WA and ending a hopeful streak
Whatcom County’s unemployment rate increased after recent hopeful decreases, with more people unemployed in October than September, and Washington state’s unemployment rate also increasing.
Whatcom County unemployment
Whatcom County had a 4.1% unemployment rate in October with 4,753 unemployed people in the county, an increase of 639 unemployed people compared to September.
In September, Whatcom County’s unemployment rate was 3.7%, with 4,114 residents receiving unemployment benefits.
In October 2022, Whatcom County’s unemployment rate was 4.7%, only 0.6% higher than in October 2023.
Whatcom County’s unemployment rate hit an extreme high of 17.4% in April 2020, and since then has fluctuated.
Since 2020, the county’s unemployment rate had both slight increases and decreases until dropping to a low of 3.1% in May 2023.
Washington state unemployment rates
The Washington State Employment Security Department’s October 2023 monthly employment report increased from September’s 3.8% unemployment rate to 3.9% in October. This increase breaks a three-month streak of a statewide unemployment rate at 3.7% or lower.
In October, 153,526 people in the state were unemployed, 6,592 more than September 2023, according to the report.
In October 2022, 183,083 people in the state were unemployed, 29,557 more than October 2023.
All data comes from the Washington State Employment Security Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This story was originally published December 5, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
