Washington ESD unemployment numbers - where to find current rates and statistics?

Thanks! Do you know where exactly on the Washington ESD website I can find these reports?

Check under their Labor Market and Economic Analysis section. They usually update monthly with both state and county breakdowns.

That's a good point about eligibility. I know people who couldn't get Washington ESD benefits even though they were unemployed.

Exactly. You have to meet work history requirements and other criteria to actually receive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD.

I had the same problem trying to reach Washington ESD by phone. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to someone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. Did they charge you for getting through to Washington ESD?

They do charge but it was worth it to finally talk to an actual person instead of getting disconnected over and over.

Different organizations use different methodologies. BLS does household surveys, Washington ESD tracks actual claims, and some private companies estimate based on job postings.

oh ok that makes more sense then

Perfect! That sounds like exactly what I need. Is it updated regularly?

Yes, they update the main unemployment rate monthly, usually around the middle of each month. More detailed reports come out quarterly.

Those were unprecedented times. The unemployment rate hit over 15% in some months during 2020.

Yeah, it was crazy. So glad things have stabilized now.

Good point. I didn't even think about seasonal adjustments.

Yeah, unemployment always goes up in winter due to seasonal industries, so the adjusted numbers give a better picture of the actual trend.

That's awesome! Would you mind sharing what you learned about where to find the most current numbers?

They told me the most up-to-date numbers are always on the BLS website first, then Washington ESD updates their site about a week later with more detailed breakdowns.

so it doesn't count people who gave up looking?

Correct. Those are called 'discouraged workers' and they're not included in the standard unemployment rate calculation.

That's encouraging! How does Washington compare to other states?

Washington typically runs a bit lower than the national average. Our tech industry helps keep employment strong.

Yes, they do! It's in their quarterly reports. Average duration has been around 14-16 weeks recently.

Thanks! That's actually shorter than I expected.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

They handle the waiting and calling back when lines are busy. You just get connected when someone actually answers.

That's the underemployment issue. BLS tracks that separately - people who want full-time work but can only find part-time.

Exactly. The full picture is more complicated than just the headline unemployment rate.

Great suggestion! That would give a more complete picture.

Right, and mention the difference between the two so your audience understands what each number represents.

Go to esd.wa.gov, then look for 'Labor Market Info' in the main menu. The unemployment stats are under 'Monthly Employment Report'.

ok found it thanks!

Good reminder! I'll definitely double-check the dates on everything.

Yeah, especially for presentations. Nothing worse than having someone point out your data is outdated.

I didn't know they had an app! Is it free?

Yep, totally free. Just search for 'Washington ESD' in your app store.

I need statewide numbers but that's a good point about regional variations.

Washington ESD breaks it down by county and metro area if you ever need that level of detail.

Thanks for that tip! I'll make sure to use seasonally adjusted data.

No problem. It makes your analysis much more accurate.

Perfect! Visuals would definitely help make my presentation more engaging.

Yeah, you can customize the charts and download them in different formats. Really convenient.

Glad we could help! How did your presentation go?

Really well! Having current, accurate numbers made a big difference in the credibility of my analysis.