Eastside King County restaurant owners discuss challenges recently with U.S. Rep Suzan DelBene at Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. (Photo credit: Cameron Sheppard/Sound Publishing)

Eastside King County restaurant owners discuss challenges recently with U.S. Rep Suzan DelBene at Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. (Photo credit: Cameron Sheppard/Sound Publishing)

King County unemployment is down after COVID-fueled recession

Economy shows signs of recovery.

The unemployment rate in King County is slowly but surely declining as the economy recovers from the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Washington Employment Security Department.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for King County in October 2021 was 4.4%. In October 2020, the rate was 6.3%. This is a massive improvement from the record unemployment rate of 15.1% in April 2020, according to the ESD.

King County’s October 2021 unemployment rate is slightly lower than the statewide rate of 5%, according to the ESD.

The ESD estimates around 1,242,523 people are currently employed in the county and 57,244 are currently unemployed.

Unemployment claims have also decreased and are more or less back to normal, according to the ESD. The weekly unemployment claims for the week of Nov. 14–20 fell below the number of claims for the same week in 2019, prior to the pandemic, according to the ESD.

Non-farm employment increased by over 12,000 jobs from September through October 2021, according to the ESD.

Each major industry sector is reporting a year-over-year recovery from the recession, ESD economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman said.

The largest gains in employment were in the governmental, professional and business services, Vance-Sherman said. The biggest losses were in the construction industry, according to the ESD.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man receives 35-year sentence for 2021 Kent killing of mother

Duane Bates borrowed pipe wrench from neighbor in beating death and later returned it

A city of Kent Public Works crew member chains up a truck Feb. 3 to help clear snow from streets. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Kent schools closed for 3rd consecutive day due to icy conditions

Kent School District cancels classes on Wednesday, Feb. 5

t
World Relief office in Kent faces challenging refugee crisis

Trump’s executive order to suspend refugee resettlement directly impacts nonprofit

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to icy roads

Second consecutive day of no school due to road conditions

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Kent Severe Weather Shelter to be open nights of Feb. 3-7

Shelter downtown at Holy Spirit Church will operate from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night

t
Kent Police hire officer who fatally shot Kansas man while on duty

Officer previously worked for Olathe Police Department; remains subject of wrongful death lawsuit

Calvin Watts. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent School District
Ex-Kent schools’ superintendent Watts fired from Georgia job

Gwinnett County board terminates superintendent contract; Watts left Kent in 2021 for position

t
Medical examiner identifies Kent man, 84, killed in car crash

Robert N. Gaunce died from multiple blunt force injuries after truck flipped on its side

Corniche Washington reading an apology letter at his sentencing. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Federal Way man sentenced in 2021 Kent bus stop murder

Corniche Washington receives nearly 23 years in shooting death of Antonio Wells.

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO
Man to face sentencing in murder of girlfriend at Kent hotel

A jury convicted Phillip J. Lopez in the 2021 beating death of Amber Keith at Ramada Inn

A mobile center from Bloodworks Northwest takes blood from Enumclaw resident Andy Bremmeyer, pictured in this 2019 photo. Sound Publishing file photo
WA residents urged to donate blood due to ‘code red’ low levels

Four consecutive days of emergency low blood supplies has led to shortages needed for transfusions and treatment.