Department of Numbers

Yakima, Washington Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Yakima rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 5.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than the Washington rate. The unemployment rate in Yakima peaked in April 2020 at 14.3% and is now 8.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in September 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Yakima unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Washington 4.0% +0.2 -0.6
Yakima 5.4% +0.1 -1.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Yakima, Washington, National

Yakima, Washington monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Yakima, Washington Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Yakima peaked in April 2020 at 19,663. There are now 12,653 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,742 in September 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 268. Yakima employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Yakima, Washington) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Yakima 7,010 +119 -2,329

Number of Unemployed Persons

Yakima, Washington Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Washington
Unemployment Rate
Yakima
Unemployment Rate
Yakima
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.0% 5.4% 7,010
October
2023
3.8% 3.8% 5.3% 6,891
September
2023
3.8% 3.6% 5.1% 6,742
August
2023
3.8% 3.6% 5.2% 6,799
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 5.4% 7,101
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 5.8% 7,623
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 6.3% 8,374
April
2023
3.4% 4.3% 6.8% 9,035
March
2023
3.5% 4.5% 7.1% 9,492
February
2023
3.6% 4.6% 7.3% 9,752
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 7.1% 9,572

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.