Washington ESD - what has the lowest unemployment rates by county or industry?
I'm curious about unemployment statistics in Washington state since I'm considering relocating for work. Does anyone know which counties or industries currently have the lowest unemployment rates? I've been on unemployment for 6 months after getting laid off from manufacturing and want to move somewhere with better job prospects before my benefits run out. Looking at the Washington ESD labor market data but it's confusing to interpret.
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Derek Olson
King County typically has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, especially around Seattle with all the tech jobs. Snohomish County is also pretty good. You can find detailed breakdowns on the Washington State Employment Security Department website under labor market information.
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Rachel Tao
•Thanks! I'll check out those areas. Are the tech jobs accessible for someone without a computer science degree?
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Derek Olson
•There are lots of non-coding roles in tech - project management, sales, customer success, etc. Many companies value transferable skills from manufacturing.
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Danielle Mays
From what I've seen, healthcare and government sectors tend to have the most stable employment. Even during economic downturns, these industries maintain lower unemployment rates. Construction has been doing well too with all the development happening.
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Roger Romero
•Healthcare is always hiring but the pay can be low for entry level positions
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Danielle Mays
•True, but there's good advancement potential and job security which matters when you're trying to get off unemployment.
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Anna Kerber
I was in a similar situation last year - couldn't get through to Washington ESD to ask about job search requirements in different counties. Spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone about which areas had the best job markets. Finally found claimyr.com which actually got me connected to an ESD agent who helped explain the labor market data. Here's their demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
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Rachel Tao
•Interesting, I didn't know there was a service to help get through to ESD. Did they charge you a lot?
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Anna Kerber
•They focus on getting you connected rather than pricing. Was worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain the job market reports properly.
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Niko Ramsey
•Wait, you can actually get through to ESD with that? I've been trying to call for weeks about my claim status
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Seraphina Delan
Thurston County around Olympia has decent unemployment rates because of all the state government jobs. Plus cost of living is lower than Seattle area so your unemployment benefits might stretch further while job searching.
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Rachel Tao
•That's a good point about cost of living. I hadn't considered how that affects the job search timeline.
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Jabari-Jo
•yeah but government jobs can take forever to hire, like months of interviews and background checks
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Roger Romero
honestly the unemployment rates don't tell the whole story... you gotta look at what kind of jobs are available and if they match your skills. I moved to a county with 'low unemployment' but all the jobs were minimum wage retail
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Derek Olson
•That's why it's important to look at industry-specific data, not just overall county rates. The Washington ESD site breaks it down by occupation type.
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Roger Romero
•true, wish I had done more research before moving
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Niko Ramsey
I've been looking at this too! From what I found, Whatcom County and Spokane County have been improving their unemployment rates. But like others said, you need to match it to your industry. Manufacturing jobs are more concentrated in certain areas.
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Rachel Tao
•Manufacturing was my background too. Which areas have the most manufacturing opportunities?
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Niko Ramsey
•Pierce County has Boeing and related aerospace manufacturing. Also some food processing plants around the state.
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Danielle Mays
•Don't forget about the ports - lots of logistics and warehouse jobs in Tacoma and Seattle areas.
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Jabari-Jo
just be careful about moving while on unemployment... you need to make sure you can still meet the job search requirements in your new county. Some areas have different WorkSource offices and requirements
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Rachel Tao
•Good point! I should check with ESD about that first. Do the job search requirements change by location?
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Derek Olson
•The requirements are statewide but some WorkSource offices have different resources and programs available.
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Anna Kerber
Actually, when I used Claimyr to get through to ESD, the agent explained that you can job search anywhere in the state and it counts toward your requirements. They even helped me understand which counties to focus on based on my skills.
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Niko Ramsey
•That's really helpful! I might have to try that service too. Getting actual advice from ESD seems impossible otherwise.
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Jabari-Jo
•wait so claimyr actually gets you to talk to real ESD people? not just some call center?
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Anna Kerber
•Yes, real Washington ESD agents. They help you get past the busy signals and hold times.
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Seraphina Delan
Another thing to consider is seasonal unemployment patterns. Some counties have tourism-based economies that fluctuate throughout the year. You want steady year-round employment opportunities.
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Rachel Tao
•That's smart thinking. I definitely want something stable, not seasonal work.
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Roger Romero
•yeah learned that the hard way in a resort town... great in summer, nothing in winter
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Derek Olson
If you're serious about this research, I'd recommend looking at the Washington State Employment Projections data. It shows which occupations are expected to grow the most over the next decade, not just current unemployment rates.
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Rachel Tao
•Where can I find those projections? That sounds like exactly what I need to plan long-term.
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Derek Olson
•It's on the ESD website under Labor Market Information, then Employment Projections. Shows growth by occupation and county.
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Danielle Mays
•Those projections are really valuable for career planning. Wish more people knew about them.
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Roger Romero
also check if there are any big companies planning to expand or relocate to certain areas... that can create a lot of job opportunities even if the current unemployment rate isn't the lowest
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Rachel Tao
•How do you find out about company expansions? Is that public information?
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Roger Romero
•sometimes it's in local news, or you can check with economic development offices in different counties
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Niko Ramsey
Just wanted to update - I tried that Claimyr service and finally got through to ESD! The agent was super helpful explaining the labor market data and helped me understand which areas would be best for my job search. Worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through.
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Rachel Tao
•That's great to hear! I'm definitely going to try it. The regular ESD phone line is impossible.
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Jabari-Jo
•ok now I'm convinced, gonna check out that claimyr thing too
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Anna Kerber
•Glad it worked for you too! Makes such a difference when you can actually talk to someone who knows the system.
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Danielle Mays
One more tip - don't just look at unemployment rates, look at job turnover rates too. High turnover might mean lots of openings but also suggests problems with working conditions or pay.
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Rachel Tao
•Good insight. I want a job I can keep long-term, not just any job to get off unemployment.
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Derek Olson
•Exactly. Quality of employment matters just as much as availability of employment.
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Seraphina Delan
From personal experience, I'd say focus on counties with diverse economies rather than those dependent on one major industry. More stability that way even if the unemployment rate fluctuates slightly.
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Rachel Tao
•That makes sense. Puts all your eggs in one basket if there's only one major employer.
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Roger Romero
•learned that lesson when the main employer in my old town shut down... whole area went downhill fast
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Jabari-Jo
whatever you decide make sure you notify ESD if you move to a different address... they need to know for your claim and for any mail they send you
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Rachel Tao
•Definitely will do that. Don't want any issues with my benefits while I'm transitioning.
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Derek Olson
•You can update your address online through your SecureAccess Washington account, pretty straightforward.
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Anna Kerber
Final thought - when I talked to the ESD agent through Claimyr, they mentioned that some counties have better partnerships with employers for job placement programs. Might be worth asking about that too when you call.
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Rachel Tao
•That's a great point I hadn't considered. Job placement programs could really help with the transition.
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Niko Ramsey
•Yeah, WorkSource offices vary a lot in what they offer. Some have way better connections with local employers.
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Rachel Tao
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm going to research King and Snohomish counties more, look into the employment projections data, and definitely try Claimyr to talk to an ESD agent about my specific situation. This has been super helpful.
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Derek Olson
•Good luck with your search! Feel free to update us on how it goes.
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Danielle Mays
•Hope you find something great in your new area. The job market is pretty good right now overall.
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Anna Kerber
•Let us know if the Claimyr service works out for you too. Always good to hear success stories.
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