Article: Jobless rate hits new low; Seattle sizzles

[EastSider]

The region's unemployment hasn't been this low in at least 24 years, ................................

But there's a lot of competition for those folks and other white-collar workers -- a key contributor to the local area's 3.8 percent unemployment rate in April. That's the lowest unemployment in the Seattle metro area -- defined as King and Snohomish counties -- since at least 1983, as far back as figures are available.

The statewide unemployment rate also fell to a record low last month, reaching 4.4 percent, the state Employment Security Department said Tuesday. That's its lowest point since the current unemployment statistics began in 1976.



I guess this explains the current strength in the housing market?

[mike2]

According to the article, in 6 years the Seattle area has added 37000 jobs. That's less than the total number of units issued building permits in King county in 2006 alone. Hmmm...