How many jobs were lost in Washington state last month?
Refreshed monthly
Washington state lost 2,000 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 44th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 4,200 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-2K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
44th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
Washington state’s job loss of 2,000 in August 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 8,100 gain in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Washington state gained jobs in 38 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 13th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (35,000) while job growth was weakest in October 2024 (-38,000).
There were 2,000 fewer jobs in August 2026 in Washington state than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Washington state sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were retail trade, other services, and durable goods. Retail trade added 1,900 jobs, more than the entire economy. Other services gained 1,700 jobs, while durable goods added 900. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and non-durable goods. administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 2,100 jobs in August 2026, while professional, scientific, and technical services lost 1,600 jobs and non-durable goods lost 700 jobs.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector lost 600 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Washington state (August 2026)
How has Washington state's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Washington state gained an average of 317 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 2,850, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 10,500 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 8,000 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Washington state gained an average of 317 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 11 metro areas primarily in Washington during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 700 jobs in the Seattle, WA area to a gain of 900 jobs in the Spokane, WA area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Washington state
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +900 | |
| 2. | +400 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | +100 | |
| 7. | +0 | |
| 8. | +0 | |
| 9. | +0 | |
| 10. | -100 |
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
