Washington’s unemployment rate falls to five-year low

SEATTLE — Washington state’s unemployment rate is at its lowest point in more than five years. The state Employment Security Department said Thursday that the jobless rate had fallen to 6.6 percent in December, down from 6.8 in November. The last time the numbers were that low was in November 2008, when the state’s unemployment rate was at 6.5 percent. State officials estimate that Washington added 4,800 jobs between November and December and a total increase of about 47,000 jobs for the year. Washington’s unemployment rate rose to as high as 10.2 percent at the start of 2010 but has been falling steadily ever since. The state says some 227,900 people are still looking for work. The national unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in December.