The unemployment rate held steady in Washington state in June, standing at 6.8 percent, according to the monthly update released in Olympia Wednesday.
For state labor economist Paul Turek, the biggest headline is found is deeper in the numbers. He sees signs of stronger hiring in the private sector. That has the side effect of motivating new job seekers to join—or rejoin—the labor force.
"We're seeing, four years after the recession was declared over, more decent signs of recovery taking place," Turek said.
Turek says this month's jobs report shows the strong gains in the private sector are again offset to a degree by continued shrinkage in state and local government.
On Tuesday, Oregon reported a slight uptick in its statewide jobless rate to 7.9 percent. That's the first increase in Oregon in eight months.
