OLYMPIA, Wash. – As expected, Washington’s unemployment numbers for April are ugly.
The state went from a 5.4% jobless rate in March to 15.4% last month.
Employment Security Department Regional Economist Anneliese Vance Sherman says the economy lost 527,000 jobs
She says unemployment has likely continued to rise into May and she doesn’t expect a quick turnaround.
How the shutdown has affect different parts of the state will be more evident next week when the department releases county numbers.