By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The Washington unemployment rate for August showed some improvement on a monthly basis, moving to 8.5%, compared to 10.2% the previous month. The Seattle/Bellevue/Everett unemployment rate fell from 8.2% in July to 7.4% in August. Twelve months ago the unemployment rate in Snohomish County was 3.0%, and 2.7% in King County. The August 2020 Monthly Employment Report marks the sixth month since the impacts of COVID-19 started showing up in the local labor market.

The Builder's Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management, and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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Shannon talks to Jenny Steiner, Builders Interiors, about her company and how their MBA membership helps them continue to grow.

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Seattle Metro Permit Volume Drops in Q1 2025

New permit data show a 33% decline in permits in the Seattle metro area in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. While single family permits saw a modest increase in King and Pierce counties through March of this year, they fell 43% in Snohomish County. Multifamily permits were down 46% across our metro area during Q1 2025 compared to last year, with the biggest decline in King County. Pierce County was the only county to see an increase in multifamily permits during the first quarter.

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