Spokane Has Jobs

Strong employment trends should help keep local economy strong and support above average Spokane real estate market.

clipped from www.spokesmanreview.com Washington unemployment bucks trend Bert Caldwell Staff writer October 22, 2008 Unemployment numbers dipped for Washington and Spokane County in September, bucking a trend toward increased joblessness. Figures released Tuesday by the Department of Employment Security pegged the state rate at 5.8 percent, compared with 6 percent in August. In Spokane County, the decline was more pronounced, with the September rate dipping to 5.5 percent from 6.1 percent in August. Spokane County has more job seekers, as well as more jobs. The labor force grew by 3,200 people from August, to 234,760, while employment increased by 4,250, to 221,820. But Doug Tweedy, state labor economist for Spokane, said the area has done well considering the effects of the Boeing Co. workers’ strike on local suppliers. Metal fabrication companies picked up the slack, he said, driving manufacturing employment up by 100 despite layoffs announced by Kaiser Aluminum and Triumph Composites.