Washington’s unemployment rate jumped from 8.3 percent to 8.5 percent, as reported by the employment security department, which may want to consider a name change if this keeps up.

OLYMPIA – Preliminary estimates of the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate and job numbers in Washington last month are seemingly at odds again, similar to the national numbers.

The initial findings indicate the state gained 5,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate rose from 8.3 percent in June to 8.5 percent in July, according to the Washington Employment Security Department.  Both figures are subject to future revisions as more data come in.

Kriss has previously written of the shaky nature of these preliminary numbers.

Here’s the AP story and the Senate Democrats take on the numbers.

In the Puget Sound Business Journal we find a bright spot: Washington’s retail job growth is 10th best in the nation.