Washington State has regained about half the jobs it lost since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, according to the latest monthly update from Employment Security.
The slow recovery began in May, but the pace slowed in July compared to the prior two months, the report noted. July’s statewide unemployment rate was 10.3% compared to 4.2% the same time a year ago.
Retail regained 4,700 jobs in April, ESD reported. It was outpaced by leisure and hospitality, a gain of 15,700 jobs; government, up 7,500 jobs; education and health services, up 7,300 jobs; and professional and business services, up 5,100 jobs.
“Although payroll job growth continued in July, the pace at which the jobs were added slowed,” Paul Turek, an economist in the department, said in a statement. “Over the last three months, nearly half of the jobs lost during the pandemic have come back, but there remains a long way to go.”
