Job vacancy increase first since 2006

More “Help Wanted” signs popped up around Washington this spring, the first increase since the fall of 2006.

A Washington Employment Security Department survey indicated employers were looking for 38,732 workers, up 21  percent since fall 2009. The high was 90,000 vacancies in 2006.

Almost half the vacancies were in King County. Spokane County, with 2,475 openings, had six percent of the vacant positions.

The median wage for the empty positions was $9.50 in the county, $10.60 in the state.