Washington's unemployment rate rises to 9.3%

Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in June, up from May’s revised rate of 9.1 percent, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The state lost an estimated 10,500 non-agricultural jobs, seasonally adjusted.

Industries with the largest declines were government, which cut 4,600 jobs, retail trade, down 2,100, education and health-care services, down 1,200, and construction, which also cut 1,200 jobs. Industries with the most job growth in June included leisure and hospitality, which added 500 jobs, and professional and business services, up 100.

Year over year, Washington had 117,800 fewer jobs last month than in June 2008, a 4 percent decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 4.1 percent over the past year.

An estimated 329,983 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in June.