Washington state’s nonfarm employment decreased by 13,600 jobs in August, according to preliminary data from the Washington state Employment Security Department.

“The period of job growth following the 2020 pandemic recession appears to be cresting,” Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department, says in a press release. “So far, more months in 2025 were characterized by job losses than by job gains.”

During the 12 months ending in August, the state lost 5,400 jobs.

The unemployment rate in August held steady at 4.5%, the same rate as a year earlier, and the same rate as July.

By comparison, the national unemployment rate increased to 4.3% in August from 4.2% in July.

Preliminary county and metropolitan statistical area data for August will be released later this month.