The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Washington state’s unemployment rate is holding steady at 5.3 percent.
The latest report Wednesday from the state’s Employment Security Department shows that the jobless rate for July was the same as the previous month, and that the private sector gained 5,900 jobs from June to July.
The national jobless rate for July was also 5.3 percent.
Unemployment figures for Clallam and Jefferson counties are expected to be released Tuesday.
Two different surveys are used to calculate unemployment figures and job losses and gains.
The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively looking for work.
People who have stopped looking for work aren’t counted.
The job gains and losses estimates are based on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of businesses.
The number of unemployed in July was 188,600 in July, and 55,891 people received unemployment benefits last month.
