Washington ESD unemployment rates - what is considered high unemployment in our state?

High unemployment is generally considered anything above 6-7% for Washington state. During the 2008 recession we hit over 10%. Right now we're around 4.5% which is actually pretty normal. The unemployment rate doesn't directly affect your individual benefit duration - that's based on your work history and earnings. But high unemployment can trigger extended benefits programs.

I think anything over 5% is considered high unemployment but I'm not totally sure. I've been on unemployment for 3 months now and the job market feels pretty tough to me even if the numbers don't show it.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about extended benefits or other programs, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered.

Washington's unemployment rate has been pretty stable around 4-5% for the past year. High unemployment would be more like 8-10%. During COVID we briefly hit 16% but that was exceptional circumstances. The state tracks this data monthly and uses it to determine things like extended benefits eligibility.

I don't care what the official numbers say, finding a job is HARD right now. I've been unemployed for 5 months and applied to over 200 jobs with maybe 10 interviews. Something is definitely wrong with the job market even if the unemployment rate looks low.

From what I understand, Washington ESD considers the statewide unemployment rate when determining if extended benefits kick in. I think it needs to be above a certain threshold for consecutive months, but I'm not 100% sure on the exact numbers.

been trying to call washington esd for weeks to ask about this stuff but their phone lines are always busy. anyone else having trouble getting through?

Historical context - Washington's unemployment rate peaked at around 12% during the Great Recession in 2009. Anything above 8% is generally considered high unemployment. We're currently in a relatively low unemployment period despite individual job search challenges.

I've been tracking Washington unemployment statistics for my job search and right now we're at 4.6% which is considered full employment by most economists. High unemployment would be anything over 6-7% sustained over time.

The unemployment rate is just one measure. Job market health also depends on things like job openings, quit rates, and wage growth. Even with low unemployment, if there aren't quality jobs available, it still feels like a tough market for job seekers.

Does anyone know if high unemployment affects the job search requirements for Washington ESD? I've been doing my 3 job contacts per week but wondering if they change the requirements based on the unemployment rate.

I read somewhere that Washington ESD uses unemployment data to determine funding for job training programs and other services. Higher unemployment areas might get more resources, but I'm not sure how that works exactly.

The thing about unemployment rates is they don't count people who've given up looking for work or are underemployed. So the real picture might be worse than the official numbers suggest.

I remember during 2020 when Washington hit 16% unemployment, Washington ESD was completely overwhelmed. Took months to get through to anyone. At least now with normal unemployment rates, the system is functioning better.

For Washington state specifically, anything above 6% is considered elevated unemployment. We track closely with national trends but sometimes our tech industry helps keep our rates lower than the national average.

If you're worried about your benefits running out, keep in mind that Washington ESD sometimes offers extended benefits during periods of high unemployment, but we're not in that situation right now with our current rates.

I think the psychological impact of unemployment is just as important as the statistics. Even if the rate is low, being out of work for months feels terrible regardless of what the numbers say.

Washington ESD publishes monthly unemployment statistics on their website if you want to track the trends. They break it down by county too, which can be helpful for understanding your local job market.

Bottom line - 4-5% unemployment is actually pretty good historically. High unemployment would be 8%+ sustained over time. Your individual job search experience might not match the statistics, but the overall economy is in decent shape employment-wise.

Just want to echo what others said about Claimyr if you need to reach Washington ESD with questions about benefits or programs. I used them last month and finally got answers to questions I'd been trying to ask for weeks.

As someone who's been navigating Washington ESD for a while now, I can add that the unemployment rate also affects federal funding for workforce development programs. When unemployment is higher, there's typically more funding available for job training and retraining programs through WorkSource. Right now with our relatively low 4-5% rate, those programs still exist but may have less funding than during high unemployment periods. It's worth checking with your local WorkSource office to see what training opportunities might be available - sometimes they have programs that aren't well publicized but could help with your job search in a specific field.