Fewer Seattle Employment Opportunities in September

There were fewer Seattle employment opportunities last month.

During September, the Seattle area's unemployment rate increased from 8.5 percent to 8.7 percent, after dropping from 8.6 percent during August. Despite the recent increase, the area's unemployment rate is still lower than the national average of 9.6 percent.

The Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area had a total non-farm employment of 1,384,900 workers during September, which is down from 1,388,300 workers during August and the same as this time last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Only three industries managed to add jobs between August and September. The government industry saw the biggest increase, adding 1,900 jobs over the month, for a current total of 194,700 workers.

That was followed by the education and health services industry, which added 1,500 jobs over the month, for a current total of 165,600 workers. The manufacturing industry added 500 jobs for a total of 154,100 workers.

On a positive note, five industries saw a yearly increase in employment during September. The information industry experienced the biggest gain, increasing by 2.7 percent over the year, for a current total of 86,400 workers.

The professional and business services industry grew by 2.6 percent to 200,600 workers; while the education and health services industry increased by 2.2 percent; the trade, transportation and utilities industry grew by 1.9 percent to 156,600 workers; and the manufacturing industry increased by .3 percent to 154,100 workers.

Employment in the mining and logging industry remained even over the month and year with 800 jobs.

The leisure and hospitality industry lost the most jobs over the month. The industry decreased by 3,200 jobs to 132,400 workers.

• Construction by 900 jobs
•  Other services by 900 jobs
• Trade, transportation and utilities by 800 jobs
• Information by 800 jobs
•  Professional and business services by 500 jobs
  
• Financial activities by 200 jobs

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year, losing 11.4 percent of its workforce, for a current total of 65,900 jobs. That was followed by the financial activities industry, which dropped by 4.1 percent to a total of 76,800 workers.

The government industry declined by 1.3 percent, while the leisure and hospitality industry decreased by .8 percent to 132,400 workers, and the other services industry fell by .6 percent to 51,000 jobs.