The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
Updated July 01, 2020
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Seattle metro area, fourth quarter 2019
(U.S. = $1,185; Area = $1,540)
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Seattle Area Economic Summary
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the nation and selected
areas
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
16.9
16.2
14.3
15.2
14.8
13.0
5.1
2.9
2.7
3.2
4.1
3.4
0.0
10.0
20.0
Pierce County
Snohomish
County
King County
Seattle metro
area
Washington
United States
May-19
May-20
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Unemployment rates
-16.0
-14.0
-12.0
-10.0
-8.0
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
May-17
May-18
May-19
May-20
Seattle metro area
United States
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
12-month percent changes in employment
Number Percent
Total nonfarm
1,843.0
-246.6
-11.8
Mining and logging
1.0
-0.1
-9.1
Construction
114.4
-14.4
-11.2
Manufacturing
171.2
-13.7
-7.4
Trade, transportation, and util ities
359.2
-34.8
-8.8
Information
126.9
1.3
1.0
Financial activities
99.8
-3.1
-3.0
Professional and business services
287.0
-12.5
-4.2
Education and health services
252.1
-32.4
-11.4
Leisure and hospitality
108.6
-101.8
-48.4
Other services
58.2
-20.3
-25.9
Government
264.6
-14.8
-5.3
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
Change from May
2019
May 2020
Seattle metro area employment
(number in thousands)
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Averag