01-04-2025
Unemployment in WA, nation rises
Apr. 1—OLYMPIA — In February 2025, the labor market in Washington state revealed a discouraging trend, as the state experienced a decline in nonfarm employment paired with a slow rise in the unemployment rate, according to a report from the Washington State Employment Security Department.
According to the report, preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that nonfarm payrolls fell by 7,200 jobs during that month. There were also around 6,900 jobs lost in the private sector. Meanwhile, the public sector lost around 300 jobs. The full report can be found at
Washington added approximately 39,000 jobs between February 2024 and February 2025, with the private sector responsible for 31,800 of those gains, according to the report. The public sector also contributed positively, adding 7,200 jobs, mainly in local government.
WorkSource supervisor Stacey Gurley-Womack, from the agency's Moses Lake office, wants to remind people that their office is available for those searching for a job, recently laid off, or looking to find a different career or continue with upper education.
"We're a one-stop shop where customers can come in," Gurley-Womack said. "We can help meet them where they're at, so they come into WorkSource for a different reason. Let's say they are looking for employment. We can let them know about different resources, different partners and what they offer. WorkSource is like a shopping mall and inside are different department stores. We all offer different services ... Our goal is to help people gain skills, whether that's retraining, whether that's resume development, digital literacy, improving their soft skills, their interviewing skills, how to fill out an application."
The unemployment rate in Washington rose slightly from 4.3% in January 2025 to 4.4% in February, mirroring the figure from one year prior. Washington-wide, the state has maintained an unemployment level higher than the national average of 4.1%, which also saw an increase from the previous month.
A closer examination of the employment changes by industry in the Evergreen State reveals a general decline, particularly in the construction and leisure and hospitality sectors. There were significant job losses in construction, which saw a decrease of 7,200 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which lost around 5,200 positions. In contrast, sectors like transportation, warehousing, utilities, and retail trade experienced modest job gains, each adding about 1,900 jobs.
On a national scale, the U.S. labor market continues to exhibit resilience amidst ongoing uncertainties. While the unemployment rate has crept upwards, the nation has seen sustained job growth over the last year. As of February 2025, the number of employed individuals has steadily increased.
For those needing assistance with unemployment in Grant and Adams counties, WorkSource has a plethora of resources to assist people looking for jobs, according to Gurley-Womack. There are training services, paid job training and services for veterans, those on cash benefits from the state, and those with disabilities. There are also people there to help with resumes, training for technical careers and more. Most of these services are offered at zero cost.
"Their success is our success," Gurley-Womack said. "The road to success isn't always straightforward. Sometimes ,they need to take two steps back to take one step forward. We are here to help people navigate those challenges."
WorkSource Central Basin
309 E. Fifth Ave., Ste. B, Moses Lake
509-766-2559
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Daily orientations at 10 a.m.
WorkSource events:
April 4: Skills and Abilities Workshop to help people identify, demonstrate and package their skills and personal qualities in a way that will be meaningful to employers. The workshop is free and goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at
April 5: Applications, Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop, which will teach people to format information to display their strengths to attract more employers. The workshop is free and goes from 9 a.m. to noon online at
April 6: Interviewing workshop to teach people how to answer job interview questions with more confidence. The workshop is free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at
April 11: Work for Washington Workshop teaches people how to search and find jobs. The workshop is free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at
April 12: Skills and Abilities Workshop to help people identify, demonstrate and package their skills and personal qualities in a way that will be meaningful to employers. The workshop is free and goes from 9 a.m. to noon online at
April 13: Applications, Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop, which will teach people to format information to display their strengths to attract more employers. The workshop is free and goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at
April 14: Personal Strength Builders Workshop teaches people what they do best and how they can improve. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in person at WorkSource.
April 17: Annual Job and Career Fair at Big Bend Community College. The event starts at 10 a.m. and goes on until 2 p.m. at 7611 Bolling St. Northeast in Moses Lake. Bring resumes, dress professionally and find your next job. A full preview of this event can be found here:
April 21: Community Engagement Workshop to learn about their community and how people can help. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to noon in person at WorkSource.
April 28: Work Concepts 2 to learn skills to find and excel in career and life. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to noon in-person at WorkSource.
