Improving economy, declining jobless claims contribute to lowest 4-week moving average
Improving economy, declining jobless claims contribute to lowest 4-week moving average for regular continued claims since start of the pandemic
OLYMPIA – The 4-week moving average ending Oct. 30, 2021, compared to the 4-week moving average for the week ending Oct. 2, shows that regular continued claims decreased by 13,163 to a total of 50,848. This total is the lowest 4-week moving average for regular continued claims since the start of the pandemic.
The decrease is likely due to the improving economy and declining jobless claims as COVID-19 cases decrease.
The same 4-week moving average for regular initial claims shows an increase of 412 to a total of 5,272.
The 4-week moving average is designed to show trends over time. The data cover regular initial and regular continued claims for the weeks ending: Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30. See the tables below.
Continued claims are the total of all weeks benefits were claimed. See a more detailed definition in the Data disclaimer and definitions section below.
From Oct. 1 to 31, 2021, the Employment Security Department (ESD) paid more than $80.7 million in regular benefits to over 48,964 Washingtonians.
4-week summary of regular initial claims
By industry
Increases in layoffs in construction and public administration contributed to an increase of 412 regular initial claims over the previous 4-week average in September 2021.
Industry sectors experiencing the highest number of regular initial claims during the 4-week period ending Oct. 30, 2021:
Construction: 6,195.
Health care and social assistance: 2,088.
Manufacturing: 1,501.
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services: 1,441.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting: 1,277.
By occupation
Increases in layoffs in construction and extraction occupations, and farming, fishing and forestry occupations contributed to an increase of 412 regular initial claims over the previous 4-week average in September 2021.
Occupations with the highest number of regular initial claims during the 4-week period ending Oct. 30, 2021:
Construction and extraction occupations: 6,218.
Management occupations: 1,986.
Office and administrative support occupations: 1,654.
Transportation and material moving occupations: 1,399.
Production occupations: 1,130.
By county
King County had the largest number of regular initial claims, totaling 4,417 for the 4-week period ending Oct. 30, 2021. King County is the most populous county in the state.
Other counties with the largest number of initial claims during the 4-week period ending Oct. 30 include:
Pierce County: 2,781.
Snohomish County: 2,166.
Yakima County: 1,362.
Spokane County: 1,229.
For complete information data showing weekly initial claims by industry sector and county for the year to date, also check theweekly unemployment initial claims charts.These charts are compiled by ESD’s Labor Market & Economic Analysis Division. For more information about specific counties, contact one of ESD’s regional local economists.
ESD will send out the next monthly initial claims news release at 10 a.m. PST on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021.
