Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Washington jobs figures show mixed signals

Employment surveys were indicating positive numbers about the economy earlier this year, but those signals have grown less clear in the past couple months.
Associated Press
Employment surveys were indicating positive numbers about the economy earlier this year, but those signals have grown less clear in the past couple months.

Washington's employment data is showing mixed signals about the direction of the state's economy.

New figures released Wednesday morning by the Employment Security Department show Washington's unemployment rate grew to 9.2 percent in June, even though a separate indicator showed that the state added 3,600 jobs.

The numbers come from two different surveys. Both surveys were indicating positive numbers about the economy earlier this year, but those signals have grown less clear in the past couple months.

Washington's seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was as high as 10 percent in February 2010. It hasn't been at 9 percent or below in more than two years. May's unemployment rate was 9.1 percent.

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.