What rate of unemployment is considered high in Washington state?

That's helpful context. So 4.8% isn't terrible then? I was getting worried about my job prospects.

depends on what industry you're in too, some sectors are hit way harder than others

Wow, 10%? That puts things in perspective. Thanks for breaking it down like that.

Yeah and during COVID it spiked even higher than that briefly. We're in much better shape now comparatively.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually help with getting through their phone system?

Yeah it automates the calling process so you don't have to sit there redialing constantly. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Interesting, might have to check that out. The phone system is absolutely brutal to deal with.

That makes sense. I should probably look up what the rate was in my county before the layoffs started.

good point, my area went from like 2.5% to 4.2% so even though its not HIGH its still a jump

You're referring to the U-6 rate which includes discouraged workers and underemployed people. That gives a more complete picture.

yeah exactly, the regular rate makes things look better than they really are sometimes

That's definitely true. I'm having to be picky about salary ranges because of rent costs.

Same problem here. Can't afford to take just any job when rent is so expensive in the Seattle area.

Competition per job opening has increased in many sectors, so you're not wrong about that feeling.

I'm definitely seeing that too. Getting responses from employers seems harder than it used to be.

Good to know. So I shouldn't panic about 4.8% then.

Exactly. That's actually within the range economists consider 'full employment' when you account for normal job transitions.

Very true. Statistics don't pay my bills unfortunately.

This. You can be the unlucky person struggling even when overall numbers look good.

I might actually try that. I've been avoiding calling Washington ESD because the wait times are insane.

Never used a service like that before but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for hours

Wow, 25%? I had no idea it got that bad back then.

Yeah we're nowhere near those crisis levels right now thankfully.

Media does tend to use dramatic language about economic indicators. It's important to look at longer-term trends.

That's probably why I was getting confused about whether the rate was actually bad or not.

I'll check that out. Probably good to understand the local picture better.

The BLS website has tons of data if you want to really dig into the numbers

Good advice. I should probably spend less time reading about unemployment rates and more time applying to jobs.

Exactly. The numbers are interesting but they don't change what you need to do day to day.

That's reassuring. I'm not in tech but hopefully that helps the overall job market.

Yeah the tech presence definitely helps stabilize our economy compared to areas more dependent on manufacturing or agriculture.

Yeah it basically handles the redialing for you until you get connected. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

Thanks, I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. The hold times are ridiculous.

True. I'm seeing a lot of part-time positions that won't pay enough to live on.

yeah this is what I was getting at earlier. the numbers dont tell the whole story about job market conditions

That's really helpful to know from someone who works in the field. So 4.8% isn't panic territory.

Thanks for the professional perspective. It's good to hear from someone who deals with these issues directly.

You're absolutely right. I should worry less about the big picture and more about my own job search.

This is the best advice in the thread honestly. The statistics are interesting but they don't change your personal situation.

Good point. I hadn't thought about seasonal patterns affecting the numbers.

Yes, seasonally adjusted rates are more meaningful for year-over-year comparisons.