Which Washington counties have highest unemployment rates right now?

Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking more about the bigger counties though - like is Pierce County doing better than Spokane County?

Pierce has Joint Base Lewis-McChord which helps stabilize things there. Military installations usually keep unemployment lower in surrounding areas.

This is so true! I got laid off from Amazon last year and there were TONS of us filing claims at the same time.

That's actually really helpful context. Do you know if Washington ESD publishes county-by-county stats anywhere?

Yes, they publish monthly labor area summaries. You can find them on the Employment Security Department website under labor market info.

Actually yes! I discovered this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Wait really? That sounds too good to be true. How does that even work?

It's legit. They basically do all the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than sitting there redialing for hours.

I hadn't thought about the long-term industry changes. Are there any counties that are actually doing better now than before?

Snohomish County has been growing with Boeing and tech spillover from Seattle. But even there you see pockets of trouble when Boeing has issues.

That's a good point about MSAs. Do you know where I can find that kind of breakdown?

Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes metro area unemployment data monthly. Much more useful than county data for job hunting purposes.

yeah but if you're dealing with washington esd for benefits the county still matters for some programs

Oh interesting about the tax situation in Vancouver. I hadn't considered that angle.

Yeah lots of people live in Vancouver but work in Oregon to avoid income tax. Creates a weird job market dynamic.

That's good to know. I was actually considering that area.

Bellingham is nice but yeah rent prices have gone through the roof. Even if unemployment is lower you need a decent paying job to afford living there.

This is such an important point! The participation rate tells a much more complete story.

Wow I never thought about that. So a low unemployment rate might actually be bad news?

Exactly. You want to see both low unemployment AND high labor force participation for a truly healthy job market.

That makes sense about government providing stability. Are there other counties with major federal installations?

Pierce County has Joint Base Lewis-McChord like someone mentioned earlier. Those definitely help keep unemployment lower.

Yeah I think people forget how much the job market really changed. It's not just about geography anymore.

That's a sobering thought. I guess I was hoping there were still some safe havens.

I hadn't thought about regional differences in Washington ESD services. That's definitely something to consider.

Yeah the Seattle area WorkSource centers tend to have more resources and workshops. Rural areas might have less support available.

Olympia is interesting - I hadn't really considered that area. How's the commute situation there?

Pretty manageable unless you're trying to get to Seattle daily. But there's enough local employment that you might not need to commute far.

Good advice. I definitely want something more stable than seasonal work.

Yeah learned this the hard way in Chelan County. Great during apple season, terrible the rest of the year.

You're absolutely right. I'll definitely check the current official data before making any decisions.

Washington Employment Security Department updates their county profiles quarterly I think. That's probably your best bet for current info.

Thanks for the recommendation! Seems like a lot of people are having trouble getting through to Washington ESD these days.

Yeah I might have to try that too. Been trying to get my adjudication resolved for weeks.

Excellent point about the bigger financial picture. It's not just about finding a job but finding one that pays enough to live decently.

This is why I ended up leaving King County even though the job market was better. Just couldn't afford to live there anymore.

That growth pattern seems to be happening everywhere. The good job markets price people out.

Yeah it's like you have to choose between affordability and opportunity. Really frustrating.

That's really smart thinking ahead like that. I'll definitely look into the occupational forecasts.

Yeah especially important in Washington where tech layoffs can happen suddenly but healthcare and trades keep growing steadily.

Great point about industry-specific opportunities. What field are you in if you don't mind me asking?

Engineering - lots of energy and agriculture-related companies in the Tri-Cities that weren't in Spokane.

Thanks for thinking of that detail. Hopefully I won't need unemployment benefits but it's good to know the support varies by location.

Yeah and if you do need to contact Washington ESD about anything, that Claimyr service people mentioned earlier really does work. Saved me so much time and frustration.