The state Employment Security Department issued its Monthly Labor Report for March today. The period covered by this report (the pay period including March 12) was somewhat impacted by COVID-19. However, most of the pandemic’s impact on jobs came after this period, and hence the numbers reported today do not accurately reflect current labor market conditions.

According to preliminary estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state lost 11,100 jobs, net, seasonally adjusted, from February to March. The estimated statewide unemployment rate for March is 5.1 percent, up from February’s revised 3.8 percent.

Most of the employment loss occurred in the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett metro area (King and Snohomish counties), which accounts for half of all jobs in the state. The Seattle metro area lost 10,700 jobs; the rest of the state lost just 400 jobs. The unemployment rate in the Seattle metro area rose to 5.5% in March from 2.6% in February. For the rest of the state, the March unemployment rate is unchanged from the February rate, 4.8%.

The full report is available here.

The next Monthly Labor Report is scheduled to be released on May 20. This report, based on April surveys of businesses and households, will show much bigger effects of COVID-19.