Key insights from public labor market data
A monthly snapshot of employment, wages, and hiring trends in Seattle-King County.
Updated October 2026
Printed text summary. Interactive charts and full data tables are online at https://www.seakingwdc.org/workforce-index
About the Workforce Index
The Workforce Index is a monthly snapshot of labor market conditions in Seattle-King County, created to help the workforce development ecosystem make sense of current trends and career pathways. It brings together public data on employment, hiring demand, wages, and layoffs in one place.
Regional Overview
Charts and tables: https://www.seakingwdc.org/workforce-index#overview
Unemployment Edges Up to 4.8% as 21,000 Join the Labor Force
King County's unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in September, from 4.7% in August, and matches September 2025. The labor force grew by about 21,000 and employment by about 18,800, so the uptick reflects more people looking for work, not job losses. September figures are preliminary.
Unemployment Trend
Charts and tables: https://www.seakingwdc.org/workforce-index#unemployment
A Seventh Month in the 4.7%–4.9% Range
September's 4.8% keeps King County's unemployment rate in the narrow band it has held since March, well below January's 5.7% peak. Initial unemployment claims through early October are about 6% below the same point in 2025.
Need reemployment support or benefits?
If you’ve recently lost work—or expect a disruption—these resources can help you take the next step. WorkSource offers personalized 1:1 support, and ESD can help you understand unemployment benefits eligibility and how to apply.
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Jobs & Wages
Charts and tables: https://www.seakingwdc.org/workforce-index#job-openings
Source: Lightcast
Postings Rise 3% as Starbucks and SpaceX Double
King County employers posted 35,662 jobs in September, up 3.1% from August and about even with September 2025. Amazon led with 2,407 postings, up 4%, while Starbucks (251) and SpaceX (311) each more than doubled. Baristas grew fastest among the most common job titles (+53%), and postings asking for artificial intelligence skills rose 72% from a year earlier.
Explore pathways and job quality
Use these tools to connect earnings data to training options—and compare job quality signals by company and occupation.
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Layoff Trends
Charts and tables: https://www.seakingwdc.org/workforce-index#layoffs
Total WARN Layoffs in 2026
6,912
King County workers affected by WARN layoffs in 2026 (YTD)
Jan–Oct 2026
Tech Still Two-Thirds of 2026 Layoffs as Restaurant Closures Add More
WARN notices so far in 2026 cover 6,912 King County workers. That's behind 2023 and 2025 at this point in the year but ahead of 2024. Information accounts for 4,477, already more than in all of 2024 or 2025. Notices since late September all came from food service closures, led by Starbucks (135) and Sidekicks Pub (83).
Need reemployment support or benefits?
If you've recently lost work—or expect a disruption—these resources can help you take the next step. WorkSource offers personalized 1:1 support, and ESD can help you understand unemployment benefits eligibility and how to apply.
Opens external sites in a new tab.
Behind the Numbers
October 29, 2026
Ghost Jobs: The Postings That Aren't Really There
Some job postings were never real jobs. Here’s how common ghost jobs are, how the Workforce Index keeps duplicate listings from inflating King County’s…
October 13, 2026
More Residents Back at Work as King County's Hiring Mix Shifts
King County's labor market took a step in the right direction this month. Unemployment fell to 4.7% in August because more residents found work, not…
May 8, 2026
Workforce Index—May 2026: A Mixed Picture
This month’s Workforce Index brings a full data refresh across the board—unemployment, hiring, wages, layoffs, and cost of living are all current. The…
Your Input Matters
We’re building the Workforce Index with our community in mind. If you have ideas for what would make this monthly update more useful, we’d love to hear from you.