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News Release Information

24-2465-SAN
Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

Business Employment Dynamics in Washington — First Quarter 2024

From December 2024 to March 2024, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments were 172,535 while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments in Washington were 160,252 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 12,283 jobs in the private sector during the first quarter of 2024. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 16,134. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the first quarter of 2024, gross job gains represented 5.7 percent of private-sector employment in Washington; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 5.7 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Washington, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 148,679 in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 6,716 jobs compared to the previous quarter. (See table 1.) Opening establishments accounted for 23,856 jobs gained in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 655 jobs from the previous quarter.

Gross job losses

In the first quarter of 2024, gross job losses represented 5.3 percent of private-sector employment in Washington; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.4 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Washington, contracting establishments lost 145,711 jobs in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 720 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 14,541 jobs, a decrease of 2,930 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 8 of the 11 industry sectors in Washington in the first quarter of 2024. Education and health services had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 5,754 jobs. This was the result of 21,320 gross job gains and 15,566 gross job losses. The leisure and hospitality industry had a net gain of 3,611 jobs, followed by the retail trade industry sector with a net gain of 3,568 jobs. Transportation and warehousing showed a net loss of 825 jobs, the largest loss of any sector in the state. Washington’s information industry sector had a net loss of 481 jobs.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at the Business Employment Dynamics Home.

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2024 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

Data in this release contain annual revisions in accordance with standard procedures. These revisions include the previous four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data.


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records.

More information on formal definitions of the data used in this release, along with coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Private-sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Washington, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Mar.
2023
June
2023
Sept.
2023
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
Mar.
2023
June
2023
Sept.
2023
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

195,738182,877171,735178,596172,5356.66.15.86.05.7

At expanding establishments

169,811157,252143,036155,395148,6795.75.24.85.24.9

At opening establishments

25,92725,62528,69923,20123,8560.90.91.00.80.8

Gross job losses

189,054170,039180,958162,462160,2526.35.76.05.45.3

At contracting establishments

146,246150,260159,296144,991145,7114.95.05.34.84.8

At closing establishments

42,80819,77921,66217,47114,5411.40.70.70.60.5

Net employment change (2)

6,68412,838-9,22316,13412,2830.30.4-0.20.60.4

Construction

Gross job gains

20,72617,86015,02018,04118,9459.28.06.98.38.5

At expanding establishments

18,42915,92313,09315,56416,4348.27.16.07.27.4

At opening establishments

2,2971,9371,9272,4772,5111.00.90.91.11.1

Gross job losses

19,67119,27920,70916,78316,7698.78.79.67.87.6

At contracting establishments

15,41617,15018,31215,12615,4356.87.78.57.07.0

At closing establishments

4,2552,1292,3971,6571,3341.91.01.10.80.6

Net employment change (2)

1,055-1,419-5,6891,2582,1760.5-0.7-2.70.50.9

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

9,97111,3959,3729,7419,0393.74.23.43.63.3

At expanding establishments

9,26410,6579,0389,2018,5293.43.93.33.43.1

At opening establishments

7077383345405100.30.30.10.20.2

Gross job losses

9,4229,6339,4518,9948,0693.53.53.53.32.9

At contracting establishments

8,3288,8118,7108,3917,7013.13.23.23.12.8

At closing establishments

1,0948227416033680.40.30.30.20.1

Net employment change (2)

5491,762-797479700.20.7-0.10.30.4

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

6,9145,4305,8955,8095,8175.03.94.34.24.2

At expanding establishments

6,0624,8795,1675,0074,8784.43.53.83.63.5

At opening establishments

8525517288029390.60.40.50.60.7

Gross job losses

6,1146,0935,2495,5575,7944.54.43.84.04.2

At contracting establishments

4,6235,2154,5794,9835,0573.43.83.33.63.7

At closing establishments

1,4918786705747371.10.60.50.40.5

Net employment change (2)

800-663646252230.5-0.50.50.20.0

Retail trade

Gross job gains

17,88715,63114,78914,99017,1655.34.64.44.55.2

At expanding establishments

16,72913,83613,40913,53515,2385.04.14.04.14.6

At opening establishments

1,1581,7951,3801,4551,9270.30.50.40.40.6

Gross job losses

14,22317,03820,25218,48213,5974.35.06.15.64.1

At contracting establishments

11,88115,55018,24016,81112,2643.64.65.55.13.7

At closing establishments

2,3421,4882,0121,6711,3330.70.40.60.50.4

Net employment change (2)

3,664-1,407-5,463-3,4923,5681.0-0.4-1.7-1.11.1

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

11,2536,80113,1378,6566,0398.65.29.86.34.3

At expanding establishments

6,4306,1235,2567,6915,2914.94.73.95.63.8

At opening establishments

4,8236787,8819657483.70.55.90.70.5

Gross job losses

9,2196,8626,8666,2536,8647.15.35.24.54.9

At contracting establishments

7,6695,9876,0955,5446,4335.94.64.64.04.6

At closing establishments

1,5508757717094311.20.70.60.50.3

Net employment change (2)

2,034-616,2712,403-8251.5-0.14.61.8-0.6

Information

Gross job gains

6,8266,8963,7343,6924,5003.94.02.22.32.8

At expanding establishments

5,8786,1613,0192,9223,6933.43.61.81.82.3

At opening establishments

9487357157708070.50.40.40.50.5

Gross job losses

9,41110,2906,9225,8034,9815.46.14.13.53.1

At contracting establishments

7,9909,8096,4005,2614,5414.65.83.83.22.8

At closing establishments

1,4214815225424400.80.30.30.30.3

Net employment change (2)

-2,585-3,394-3,188-2,111-481-1.5-2.1-1.9-1.2-0.3

Financial activities

Gross job gains

7,9657,9056,4456,6536,4055.15.14.24.34.2

At expanding establishments

6,5456,6015,3515,3725,2024.24.33.53.53.4

At opening establishments

1,4201,3041,0941,2811,2030.90.80.70.80.8

Gross job losses

7,8297,4357,5197,1426,4095.14.84.94.74.1

At contracting establishments

5,8466,1046,3105,9385,5713.83.94.13.93.6

At closing establishments

1,9831,3311,2091,2048381.30.90.80.80.5

Net employment change (2)

136470-1,074-489-40.00.3-0.7-0.40.1

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

29,48131,05130,17830,84428,6335.55.85.65.75.3

At expanding establishments

24,84624,45525,46325,92223,3874.64.64.74.84.3

At opening establishments

4,6356,5964,7154,9225,2460.91.20.90.91.0

Gross job losses

36,14026,11830,43727,45227,1436.74.95.75.15.0

At contracting establishments

27,04522,37926,69124,71123,4535.04.25.04.64.3

At closing establishments

9,0953,7393,7462,7413,6901.70.70.70.50.7

Net employment change (2)

-6,6594,933-2593,3921,490-1.20.9-0.10.60.3

Education and health services

Gross job gains

21,89622,95322,55320,30221,3204.44.64.54.04.1

At expanding establishments

19,14118,43919,54917,39418,1843.83.73.93.43.5

At opening establishments

2,7554,5143,0042,9083,1360.60.90.60.60.6

Gross job losses

19,79816,68518,08916,80715,5664.03.43.53.33.0

At contracting establishments

14,75214,79715,45313,75213,5183.03.03.02.72.6

At closing establishments

5,0461,8882,6363,0552,0481.00.40.50.60.4

Net employment change (2)

2,0986,2684,4643,4955,7540.41.21.00.71.1

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

31,50830,74225,03127,79428,5299.49.07.48.28.3

At expanding establishments

27,16425,92520,77523,33623,8038.17.66.16.96.9

At opening establishments

4,3444,8174,2564,4584,7261.31.41.31.31.4

Gross job losses

27,56626,34729,23125,19624,9188.27.88.67.47.2

At contracting establishments

19,70622,71224,79022,31022,8775.96.77.36.66.6

At closing establishments

7,8603,6354,4412,8862,0412.31.11.30.80.6

Net employment change (2)

3,9424,395-4,2002,5983,6111.21.2-1.20.81.1

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

7,7876,7856,0626,4776,7428.27.16.36.76.9

At expanding establishments

6,6425,9955,0005,3405,6437.06.35.25.55.8

At opening establishments

1,1457901,0621,1371,0991.20.81.11.21.1

Gross job losses

6,2995,5806,8375,4735,3926.65.87.25.65.5

At contracting establishments

4,5574,6885,7254,7624,8014.84.96.04.94.9

At closing establishments

1,7428921,1127115911.80.91.20.70.6

Net employment change (2)

1,4881,205-7751,0041,3501.61.3-0.91.11.4

Footnotes:
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.

Table 2. Private-sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Mar.
2023
June
2023
Sept.
2023
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
Mar.
2023
June
2023
Sept.
2023
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024

United States(1)

6.36.25.96.05.75.55.96.05.75.4

Alabama

6.56.06.06.25.75.65.76.05.75.5

Alaska

10.511.08.510.210.58.68.910.59.98.6

Arizona

6.07.06.86.58.45.66.35.76.66.4

Arkansas

5.85.95.66.25.65.16.05.85.05.2

California

6.36.86.46.45.86.66.46.56.45.6

Colorado

7.27.35.48.26.46.56.56.17.67.7

Connecticut

6.26.45.85.65.65.15.76.25.75.2

Delaware

6.76.46.06.16.05.25.86.55.85.1

District of Columbia

6.05.45.45.25.14.95.35.45.64.9

Florida

6.36.86.56.15.85.75.95.95.95.4

Georgia

6.56.36.16.26.06.06.46.15.75.7

Hawaii

5.65.75.36.15.45.15.36.85.05.1

Idaho

7.97.87.28.57.97.37.47.95.88.3

Illinois

5.85.44.85.05.14.85.25.35.14.8

Indiana

5.65.65.75.55.35.15.85.75.15.0

Iowa

6.16.05.66.16.15.45.95.85.75.6

Kansas

6.16.15.75.85.75.46.06.05.35.6

Kentucky

6.15.65.75.75.74.95.95.65.25.0

Louisiana

6.56.06.26.36.25.56.56.05.85.7

Maine

7.87.67.07.47.26.37.67.87.06.1

Maryland

7.26.76.36.25.86.06.66.45.85.7

Massachusetts

5.85.95.45.55.24.95.65.95.55.1

Michigan

5.85.95.25.55.45.05.35.95.55.2

Minnesota

5.86.03.36.95.84.85.54.36.95.7

Mississippi

6.56.46.26.15.76.16.56.25.76.1

Missouri

6.55.85.66.05.75.15.95.85.65.3

Montana

8.77.87.78.88.17.28.48.47.27.5

Nebraska

6.56.26.05.95.85.25.75.95.75.1

Nevada

6.26.56.56.75.95.85.95.65.46.2

New Hampshire

7.06.75.86.26.55.96.36.75.95.8

New Jersey

6.36.46.05.95.55.86.06.05.85.4

New Mexico

7.06.66.46.96.05.86.36.85.86.0

New York

6.56.25.85.75.95.25.86.05.65.0

North Carolina

6.66.15.76.35.45.35.76.14.95.5

North Dakota

7.66.96.66.76.95.76.76.66.36.1

Ohio

6.05.65.25.45.54.85.65.65.24.8

Oklahoma

6.36.36.36.15.65.46.16.05.85.2

Oregon

7.66.46.16.26.45.96.66.76.26.1

Pennsylvania

5.55.25.25.25.14.75.55.14.84.6

Rhode Island

7.46.76.46.86.95.96.86.76.35.7

South Carolina

6.86.46.66.26.45.96.65.75.36.3

South Dakota

7.36.76.36.66.35.96.06.35.85.8

Tennessee

5.95.85.66.25.55.05.55.75.54.9

Texas

6.05.85.75.75.45.15.45.55.25.1

Utah

7.06.96.96.66.76.36.46.66.56.0

Vermont

8.47.46.47.37.26.07.57.96.66.3

Virginia

6.26.15.95.95.75.25.96.05.55.2

Washington

6.66.15.86.05.76.35.76.05.45.3

West Virginia

7.36.16.56.56.95.56.46.65.85.7

Wisconsin

6.15.65.25.55.54.85.85.85.24.8

Wyoming

9.08.48.38.98.47.88.78.28.48.3

Puerto Rico

5.15.95.74.95.45.85.05.34.84.6

Virgin Islands

7.97.58.26.05.67.46.56.85.94.5

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024