Whatcom County’s unemployment rate in May is down from previous month and year

Alyse Smith
·1 min read

Washington state’s unemployment rate decreased in May, and Whatcom County’s rate followed suit with 824 fewer people unemployed than in April.

Whatcom also had 1,550 fewer unemployed residents compared to the same month last year.

The May 2023 monthly employment report showed a decrease in Washington’s unemployment numbers, dropping from a 4.3% unemployment rate in April to 4.1% in May.

In May, 165,300 people in the state were unemployed, 9,200 less than April 2023, according to the report.

In May 2022, 158,600 people in the state were unemployed, 6,700 less than May 2023.

Whatcom County’s rate falls

Whatcom County had a 3.2% unemployment rate in May with 3,639 unemployed people in the county, a decrease compared to April.

In April, Whatcom County’s unemployment rate was 3.8%, with 4,463 residents receiving unemployment benefits.

In May 2022, Whatcom County’s unemployment rate was 4.5%, with 1,550 more residents receiving unemployment compared to May 2023.

All data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor of Statistics.