Job Growth Slowing Down in Washington

Washington's new employment report shows jobs growth in October was only about a third of what it was in September.

The numbers from the Employment Security Department show that job growth in October was the lowest it's been since May.

Much of the slowdown is being linked to the loss of 9,300 government jobs, however private sector hiring was also down 14 percent in October.

Washington saw drop of 74 percent in the Travel and Leisure industry, which includes restaurants, hotels, and arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses.

Construction hiring, which typically falls with an increase of rain in the fall, was sharply off - from a boost of 3,600 jobs in September to a contraction of 200 in October

A bright spot was Manufacturing, which saw a rise in hiring of nearly 87 percent.

Professional and business services saw a dramatic rise, from a loss of 2,900 jobs in September to an increase of 5,600 in October.

The state's unemployment rate dropped from 5.1 percent to 5 percent.

Nationally, there was a healthy 70 percent rise in jobs from September to October.