Oregon Public Broadcasting

The number of people looking for work in Washington State has risen to its highest level in more than four years.

The news comes a day after Oregon announced its jobless rate is also at a four-year high.

Washington’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is now 6.3 percent. The state continues to lose jobs in manufacturing, construction, and retail. 

State economist Mary Ayala predicts stores won’t engage in their typical holiday hiring blitz.

Mary Ayala: “My guess is we’re going to lose some for the next few months in retail. Seasonally we’d go down we’re thinking.”

Despite a rising unemployment rate, Washington State actually experienced a slight gain of jobs overall in October. 

More than 200,000 people are looking for work in Washington State.

Home sales numbers are also out Tuesday. Third-quarter existing home sales in Washington dropped to their lowest levels since 1996.