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News Release Information

19-2130-SAN
Thursday, December 05, 2019

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

Business Employment Dynamics in Washington – First Quarter 2019

From December 2018 to March 2019, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Washington totaled 176,059, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments numbered 160,092, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Richard Holden, the Bureau’s Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations, noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 15,967. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 22,274.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business 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 Technical Note for more information.)

Washington’s number of gross job gains decreased by 6,235 during the first quarter of 2019, following an increase of 9,650 in the previous quarter. Gross job losses rose by 72 in the first quarter of 2019, after decreasing by 21,167 in the previous quarter. (See chart 1.)

Gross job gains represented 6.2 percent of private-sector employment in Washington in the first quarter of 2019, while gross job losses accounted for 5.6 percent of private-sector employment. Nationally, gross job gains and gross job losses accounted for 5.9 and 5.5 percent of private-sector employment, respectively. (See chart 2.) The rates of both gross job gains and job losses in Washington have been at or above the U.S. rate each quarter since data became available in 1992.

During the first quarter of 2019, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 10 of the 11 industry sectors in Washington. For example, within education and health services, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 4,238. While 19,823 jobs were gained in opening and expanding establishments in the industry, 15,585 jobs were lost by closing and contracting establishments in the first quarter of 2019. In retail trade, 19,588 jobs were created in opening and expanding establishments, while 16,113 jobs were lost in closing and contracting establishments. (See table 1.)

In contrast, the transportation and warehousing industry sector had a net employment loss, with gross job losses exceeding gross job gains by 281.

Additional statistics and other information

BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. For more information on the Business Employment Dynamics data, visit the BED web site at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for the Second Quarter 2019 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

Changes to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

Data in this release incorporate annual revisions to the BED series. Annual revisions are published each year with the release of first quarter data. These revisions cover the last 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), or the ES-202 program. The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the quarterly QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting establishments.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either establishments with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either establishments with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request: voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Washington, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and job losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and job losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

201,233204,847172,644182,294176,0597.27.36.26.46.2

At expanding establishments

173,336162,388145,887159,042156,5386.25.85.25.65.5

At opening establishments

27,89742,45926,75723,25219,5211.01.51.00.80.7

Gross job losses

172,808180,137181,187160,020160,0926.26.56.55.65.6

At contracting establishments

139,977159,065159,430141,757143,3485.05.75.75.05.0

At closing establishments

32,83121,07221,75718,26316,7441.20.80.80.60.6

Net employment change (2)

28,42524,710-8,54322,27415,9671.00.8-0.30.80.6

Construction

Gross job gains

21,32220,12217,57620,49218,61010.810.18.910.28.9

At expanding establishments

18,23216,55214,94117,96516,4259.28.37.68.97.9

At opening establishments

3,0903,5702,6352,5272,1851.61.81.31.31.0

Gross job losses

16,31017,48018,45114,68317,7128.28.79.37.38.5

At contracting establishments

13,65415,05416,24713,23015,8366.97.58.26.67.6

At closing establishments

2,6562,4262,2041,4531,8761.31.21.10.70.9

Net employment change (2)

5,0122,642-8755,8098982.61.4-0.42.90.4

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

11,48010,16610,97111,8729,9674.03.53.94.23.5

At expanding establishments

10,8279,4779,57311,3889,5183.83.33.44.03.3

At opening establishments

6536891,3984844490.20.20.50.20.2

Gross job losses

8,5729,2919,2528,1438,1803.13.33.32.82.8

At contracting establishments

7,7688,2388,7247,5227,7842.82.93.12.62.7

At closing establishments

8041,0535286213960.30.40.20.20.1

Net employment change (2)

2,9088751,7193,7291,7870.90.20.61.40.7

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

6,9767,1136,2806,8216,2005.35.44.75.14.7

At expanding establishments

5,8025,5685,4406,0515,3034.44.24.14.54.0

At opening establishments

1,1741,5458407708970.91.20.60.60.7

Gross job losses

5,9926,6736,2955,7495,5754.55.04.74.34.2

At contracting establishments

5,0365,7595,3564,9064,9583.84.34.03.73.7

At closing establishments

9569149398436170.70.70.70.60.5

Net employment change (2)

984440-151,0726250.80.40.00.80.5

Retail trade

Gross job gains

20,35021,08020,19616,06619,5885.45.55.34.25.2

At expanding establishments

18,37218,30217,11714,75418,2174.94.84.53.94.8

At opening establishments

1,9782,7783,0791,3121,3710.50.70.80.30.4

Gross job losses

16,43219,89019,03619,41416,1134.45.25.05.14.2

At contracting establishments

14,62817,97417,28317,45814,5893.94.74.54.63.8

At closing establishments

1,8041,9161,7531,9561,5240.50.50.50.50.4

Net employment change (2)

3,9181,1901,160-3,3483,4751.00.30.3-0.91.0

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

5,5126,4155,3067,5605,6495.36.25.17.35.4

At expanding establishments

4,9295,0404,7566,8554,9024.74.94.66.64.7

At opening establishments

5831,3755507057470.61.30.50.70.7

Gross job losses

7,2955,6016,6965,7915,9307.05.46.55.65.6

At contracting establishments

6,3675,1185,7995,5035,5746.14.95.65.35.3

At closing establishments

9284838972883560.90.50.90.30.3

Net employment change (2)

-1,783814-1,3901,769-281-1.70.8-1.41.7-0.2

Information

Gross job gains

5,0957,2515,8544,5556,8393.95.54.43.34.9

At expanding establishments

4,3976,2425,1064,1076,3563.44.73.83.04.6

At opening establishments

6981,0097484484830.50.80.60.30.3

Gross job losses

3,4923,0983,6394,4613,4982.82.42.73.32.5

At contracting establishments

2,7742,4513,2453,8032,3172.21.92.42.81.7

At closing establishments

7186473946581,1810.60.50.30.50.8

Net employment change (2)

1,6034,1532,215943,3411.13.11.70.02.4

Financial activities

Gross job gains

7,3748,4567,0656,7957,3155.05.84.84.64.9

At expanding establishments

6,3226,4355,8955,6096,5164.34.44.03.84.4

At opening establishments

1,0522,0211,1701,1867990.71.40.80.80.5

Gross job losses

6,1756,9407,4177,3615,8424.24.75.05.03.9

At contracting establishments

5,0885,9636,2276,2355,1103.54.04.24.23.4

At closing establishments

1,0879771,1901,1267320.70.70.80.80.5

Net employment change (2)

1,1991,516-352-5661,4730.81.1-0.2-0.41.0

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

28,60928,20825,47625,49125,5597.06.86.26.16.1

At expanding establishments

24,41722,96921,46621,26021,7126.05.55.25.15.2

At opening establishments

4,1925,2394,0104,2313,8471.01.31.01.00.9

Gross job losses

22,38924,34224,39823,60822,6745.55.95.95.65.4

At contracting establishments

18,33320,55121,07320,52919,8944.55.05.14.94.7

At closing establishments

4,0563,7913,3253,0792,7801.00.90.80.70.7

Net employment change (2)

6,2203,8661,0781,8832,8851.50.90.30.50.7

Education and health services

Gross job gains

28,72030,31119,56819,95319,8236.26.64.14.24.2

At expanding establishments

21,80615,22515,15717,12216,7384.73.33.23.63.5

At opening establishments

6,91415,0864,4112,8313,0851.53.30.90.60.7

Gross job losses

24,59028,56117,19815,37815,5855.36.13.73.23.3

At contracting establishments

13,33426,99013,89012,85113,7192.95.83.02.72.9

At closing establishments

11,2561,5713,3082,5271,8662.40.30.70.50.4

Net employment change (2)

4,1301,7502,3704,5754,2380.90.50.41.00.9

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

29,22829,70925,81031,34327,0648.88.97.79.37.9

At expanding establishments

24,26524,39420,71725,63622,9887.37.36.27.66.7

At opening establishments

4,9635,3155,0935,7074,0761.51.61.51.71.2

Gross job losses

26,03026,05229,15124,86726,1747.87.88.77.47.6

At contracting establishments

22,27522,71726,22421,24623,7296.76.87.86.36.9

At closing establishments

3,7553,3352,9273,6212,4451.11.00.91.10.7

Net employment change (2)

3,1983,657-3,3416,4768901.01.1-1.01.90.3

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

6,1166,8965,8885,8138,7116.77.56.46.39.3

At expanding establishments

5,1155,7065,1925,0838,0935.66.25.65.58.6

At opening establishments

1,0011,1906967306181.11.30.80.80.7

Gross job losses

5,8145,5426,0576,0485,3056.46.06.56.55.6

At contracting establishments

4,7764,7785,3715,2804,6465.35.25.85.74.9

At closing establishments

1,0387646867686591.10.80.70.80.7

Net employment change (2)

3021,354-169-2353,4060.31.5-0.1-0.23.7

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.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
Mar.
2018
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019

United States(1)

6.16.16.06.35.95.55.86.05.65.5

Alabama

6.15.86.06.36.05.45.75.95.35.5

Alaska

10.110.98.911.010.08.910.710.79.89.0

Arizona

6.06.06.66.25.65.35.95.15.15.5

Arkansas

5.45.06.15.95.25.25.75.65.05.1

California

6.46.76.56.96.36.06.46.25.96.2

Colorado

6.86.86.66.86.66.06.16.86.06.3

Connecticut

5.15.85.35.35.25.35.15.74.95.7

Delaware

7.16.45.76.66.45.96.06.55.65.5

District of Columbia

6.05.65.35.65.44.95.65.55.14.9

Florida

6.26.46.86.46.15.56.15.86.15.6

Georgia

6.56.36.76.36.85.76.46.15.85.7

Hawaii

5.15.35.15.85.44.75.45.45.15.9

Idaho

7.97.36.87.47.56.16.86.96.36.1

Illinois

5.75.65.55.55.25.25.65.85.65.1

Indiana

5.75.55.25.65.95.15.55.45.04.8

Iowa

5.65.75.35.85.15.35.45.75.35.4

Kansas

5.35.75.96.15.45.45.65.75.45.7

Kentucky

6.25.95.86.15.85.95.76.05.45.5

Louisiana

6.76.26.36.25.95.96.56.35.85.9

Maine

7.08.06.17.37.27.07.17.56.76.4

Maryland

6.36.16.36.86.45.85.86.66.45.7

Massachusetts

5.76.15.65.85.75.25.56.15.35.2

Michigan

5.65.55.05.65.14.65.26.25.24.6

Minnesota

5.45.85.55.75.25.15.25.75.45.1

Mississippi

5.55.75.96.55.76.06.05.95.36.2

Missouri

5.55.75.95.85.45.25.76.05.45.3

Montana

7.98.07.28.97.67.17.87.97.28.0

Nebraska

5.85.85.95.95.75.65.85.95.75.6

Nevada

6.56.16.76.66.05.55.85.75.55.4

New Hampshire

6.16.75.76.66.36.06.26.85.75.7

New Jersey

5.76.56.06.45.76.15.86.45.75.6

New Mexico

6.56.76.46.86.45.76.26.46.15.8

New York

6.36.36.16.36.05.65.86.45.75.3

North Carolina

6.26.15.76.76.35.35.76.45.35.1

North Dakota

7.16.76.66.87.16.36.26.66.26.4

Ohio

5.65.65.45.65.55.15.45.85.35.1

Oklahoma

6.26.46.76.55.85.76.36.16.15.8

Oregon

8.06.26.26.76.35.86.36.36.05.8

Pennsylvania

5.35.35.45.35.14.95.15.24.84.8

Rhode Island

6.46.36.26.45.86.16.16.45.75.6

South Carolina

6.37.55.87.46.45.16.76.55.46.0

South Dakota

6.46.16.06.35.75.96.15.75.86.4

Tennessee

5.15.55.85.85.44.95.35.34.94.8

Texas

5.95.96.06.25.55.15.35.45.25.2

Utah

7.56.97.36.97.36.06.46.46.26.2

Vermont

6.57.26.97.46.77.07.17.66.86.3

Virginia

6.06.25.76.36.45.45.86.35.65.5

Washington

7.27.36.26.46.26.26.56.55.65.6

West Virginia

6.96.87.06.36.06.06.46.46.56.6

Wisconsin

5.65.55.15.45.14.75.55.95.04.8

Wyoming

8.68.48.310.08.68.08.48.47.87.8

Puerto Rico

8.57.97.26.07.16.96.25.86.85.1

Virgin Islands

13.313.212.87.911.918.67.05.97.17.4

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, December 05, 2019