Washington Unemployment Rate 5 for
Washington Unemployment Rate came in at 5 (Percent) for Jul 2026, down 3.85% from 5.2 the prior month and 8.70% above its level of 4.6 one year ago. The series has averaged 6.61 since 1976, reaching a record high of 17.1 in April 2020 and a record low of 3.6 in January 2020.
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<iframe src="https://marketxls.com/embed/indicators/washington-unemployment-rate" width="100%" height="460" frameborder="0" title="Washington Unemployment Rate chart"></iframe><p style="font:12px/1.4 sans-serif;margin:4px 0 0"><a href="https://marketxls.com/indicators/washington-unemployment-rate" rel="nofollow">Washington Unemployment Rate chart - MarketXLS</a></p>Historical Data
⋮ | ⋮ |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | 5 |
| June 1, 2026 | 5.2 |
| May 1, 2026 | 5.2 |
| April 1, 2026 | 5.2 |
| March 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| February 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| January 1, 2026 | 5 |
| December 1, 2025 | 4.9 |
| November 1, 2025 | 4.9 |
| September 1, 2025 | 4.7 |
| August 1, 2025 | 4.6 |
| July 1, 2025 | 4.6 |
| June 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| May 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| April 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| March 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| February 1, 2025 | 4.4 |
| January 1, 2025 | 4.4 |
| December 1, 2024 | 4.3 |
| November 1, 2024 | 4.3 |
⋮ | ⋮ |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2001 | 5.6 |
| February 1, 2001 | 5.5 |
| January 1, 2001 | 5.4 |
| December 1, 2000 | 5.3 |
| November 1, 2000 | 5.2 |
| October 1, 2000 | 5.2 |
| September 1, 2000 | 5.2 |
| August 1, 2000 | 5.2 |
| July 1, 2000 | 5.1 |
| June 1, 2000 | 5.1 |
| May 1, 2000 | 5 |
| April 1, 2000 | 4.9 |
| March 1, 2000 | 4.9 |
| February 1, 2000 | 4.8 |
| January 1, 2000 | 4.8 |
| December 1, 1999 | 4.8 |
| November 1, 1999 | 4.8 |
| October 1, 1999 | 4.8 |
| September 1, 1999 | 4.9 |
| August 1, 1999 | 4.9 |
About Washington Unemployment Rate
What it measures
Washington State's unemployment rate, tracked on FRED as WAUR, is a monthly, seasonally adjusted product of the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. The state's economy is defined by aerospace manufacturing led by Boeing's Puget Sound plants and by the technology giants headquartered in the Seattle area, alongside major agricultural exports.
Why it matters
Washington concentrates two globally significant industries in one labor market. Aerospace employment moves with aircraft orders and production rates, while tech hiring reflects cloud computing and e-commerce investment cycles. Swings in the state's rate therefore offer early evidence on capital goods demand and on the expansion or retrenchment of big tech payrolls.
How to read it
Measure the state against the national unemployment rate and note that its high-wage industries can cut deeply during corrections, producing sharper swings than the US average. Aerospace production changes ripple through a large supplier base with a lag. Persistent divergence from the national trend usually traces to one of the two anchor industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Washington Unemployment Rate?
Washington Unemployment Rate is 5 (Percent) as of July 2026.
What is the all-time high and low of Washington Unemployment Rate?
The highest value on record is 17.1 (April 2020) and the lowest is 3.6 (January 2020).
How often is Washington Unemployment Rate updated?
Washington Unemployment Rate is published on a monthly basis, sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
Stats
| Last Value | 5 |
| Latest Period | Jul 2026 |
| Last Updated | August 26 2026, 04:14 |
| Value Previous Month | 5.2 |
| Change From Previous Month | -3.85% |
| Value 1 Year Ago | 4.6 |
| Change From Year Ago | 8.70% |
| Average Growth Rate | -1.05%/yr |
| Record High (Apr 2020) | 17.1 |
| Record Low (Jan 2020) | 3.6 |
| Long-Term Average | 6.61 |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Adjustment | Seasonally Adjusted |
| Unit | Percent |
Annual Averages
| 2026 | 5.11 |
| 2025 | 4.59 |
| 2024 | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 4.22 |
| 2022 | 4.04 |
| 2021 | 5.19 |
| 2020 | 8.7 |
| 2019 | 4.18 |
| 2018 | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 4.65 |
| 2016 | 5.19 |
| 2015 | 5.44 |
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