Published December 2000

Aerospace industry adds jobs, but unemployment up

By Mike Benbow
Herald Economy Editor

The aircraft industry in Washington state did something in October it hadn’t done in more than two years: It added jobs.

It wasn’t many, just 100, but state employment officials said it was the first such increase since the Boeing Co. began laying off workers in July 1998.

The company announced some weeks ago that employment levels had reached their targets and might increase, depending on production needs.

Despite that encouraging sign, unemployment rose a bit both in Snohomish County and throughout the state in October. Locally, it was 3.5 percent, up from 3.4 percent in September. Statewide, the number was 4.4 percent, up from 4.2 percent the previous month.

When adjusted for seasonal trends, Washington’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.7 percent. The comparable national rate was unchanged at 3.9 percent.

Employment Security Commissioner Carver Gayton said the slight uptick in idle workers was typical for September as the construction industry and some manufacturers shed workers. Jobs in summer recreation also disappeared. Jobs increased in business services and education.

In Snohomish County, the jobless rate means that from a worker base of 342,100 people, 330,100 have jobs and 12,000 are unemployed.

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