Washington ESD unemployment rates highest in which counties right now?

From what I've seen, some of the rural counties tend to have higher rates, especially those dependent on seasonal industries like agriculture. King County usually has lower rates due to tech jobs, but even Seattle has been seeing increases lately.

You can find this data on the Washington State Employment Security Department's Labor Market Information page. They publish monthly unemployment statistics by county. Last I checked, some of the smaller counties like Adams and Garfield had rates above 6%, while King and Snohomish were closer to 4%.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get through to someone about my claim status. If your cousin ends up needing to file for unemployment benefits, I'd suggest using Claimyr.com - they have a service that helps you actually reach ESD agents by phone. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Eastern Washington generally has higher unemployment than the west side, but it varies a lot by industry. Spokane County isn't too bad, but some of the smaller counties struggle. Your cousin should also look at job growth trends, not just current unemployment rates.

Don't forget that unemployment rates can be misleading - some areas have low rates because people gave up looking for work. Labor force participation rates are important too.

i think yakima county has been pretty rough lately, lots of agricultural workers struggling when seasons end

The Washington State Department of Commerce also publishes economic data by county that might help your cousin. They show which industries are growing or shrinking in each area.

What kind of work is your cousin looking for? That makes a huge difference in which areas to consider.

I was unemployed for 8 months last year and had to deal with ESD constantly. The system is so overwhelmed that even in low unemployment areas, it takes forever to get help if you need it. Definitely recommend having backup plans.

Check out WorkSource Washington too - they have local employment data and can show which areas have the most job openings in specific fields.

The timing matters too - some counties look better in summer due to tourism and construction, worse in winter. Make sure you're looking at seasonally adjusted numbers.

I moved from Grays Harbor County to Thurston County last year specifically because the job market was so much better. Sometimes relocating within the state makes a huge difference.

Just remember that if your cousin does end up needing to file for unemployment while job searching, the Washington ESD phone system is incredibly frustrating. I spent weeks trying to get through before someone told me about Claimyr. Made the whole process so much easier.

Don't overlook Spokane - it's had some economic diversification lately and the unemployment isn't as bad as some of the smaller eastern counties.

Whatever you do, make sure your cousin has all his documentation ready if he needs to interact with ESD. They're very picky about paperwork and it can delay everything.

i've been watching the job market pretty closely and it seems like things are slowly improving statewide, but the recovery is definitely uneven across different counties

For aerospace specifically, you really want to look at Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Those have the established supply chains and supporting industries.

The Washington Employment Security Department updates their county unemployment data monthly, usually around the 3rd Friday. You can set up email alerts to get the latest numbers.

Just wanted to add that if your cousin is considering relocation, he should also factor in housing costs and cost of living differences between counties. Lower unemployment doesn't always mean better financial situation.

One more resource - the Puget Sound Regional Council publishes economic forecasts that include employment projections for the central Puget Sound area. Helpful for long-term planning.

Good luck to your cousin! The job market is tough but Washington still has opportunities if you know where to look. Having family support during a job search makes a big difference too.