03/21/2011: "State Wide Job Gains"

OLYMPIA - Washington added an estimated 800 jobs in February and the unemployment rate dipped to 9.1 percent from January’s revised rate of 9.2 percent.
The big gainer in February was the construction industry, which added an estimated 3,900 jobs.

Other industries that grew last month were government, up 1,700; and leisure and hospitality, up 1,600.

Growth in the public sector is attributed primarily to military jobs and higher education.

Jobs were lost in retail trade, down 1,500; wholesale trade, down 1,400; financial activities, down 1,300; professional and business services, down 1,300; and transportation, warehousing and utilities, down 400.

Since February 2010, Washington has added an estimated 31,100 private-sector jobs, while losing an estimated 3,200 public-sector jobs.

An estimated 341,865 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work, and 234,695 people received unemployment benefits from Washington in February.

Employment Security is a partner in the statewide WorkSource system, which offers a variety of employment and training services for job seekers, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés and job referrals. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.

More than 17,000 job openings are posted online at www.go2worksource.com. And local help from Northwest Workforce Career Center located in Friday Harbor.