Washington and Idaho report declining unemployment rates for July

Labor market data for July shows declining unemployment rates in both Washington and Idaho.

In Washington, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.0% from 5.2% in June. The state added approximately 21,100 nonfarm jobs, marking the third consecutive month of growth. The largest gains occurred in education and health services, which added 7,300 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 2,700. Private-sector employment rose by 22,500, while the public sector saw a decline of 1,400 jobs.

In Idaho, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 3.7% in June to 3.6% in July. While the total labor force and total employment saw slight decreases, nonfarm jobs saw a net increase of 1,200. Significant industry gains in Idaho were noted in the information and natural resources sectors.