Washington unemployment rates rise in April

May 27-The Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) this week released the unemployment rates for April 2026, showing that unemployment remained the same in Lewis County while increasing in Thurston County.

Specifically, Lewis County's unemployment rate remained at 6.3% in April as it was in March, while Thurston County saw its unemployment rate increase from 4.7% in March to 4.8% in April.

In Skamania County, the unemployment rate fell from 5.5% to 4.8%, while other counties rate changes included: an increase in Pierce County from 5.3% to 5.4%; a decrease in Grays Harbor County from 6.3% to 5.4%; Pacific County fell from 7.3% to 6.8%; Wahkiakum County increased from 7.6% to 7.9%; in Clark County, the rate remained at 5.1%; and Cowlitz County fell from 5.9% to 5.8%.

Across Washington state, the unemployment rate has increased from 5.1% in March to 5.2% in April.

Nationally, unemployment sat at 4.3% in April.

For more information, view the ESD's monthly employment reports on its website at https://tinyurl.com/2sj6tnzz.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 11:33 AM.