Advisory: BLS Announces Labor Market and Employment Information Release Schedule

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced an updated 2026 schedule for state and county employment numbers. The new schedule delays the release of January and February data from March to April.

The Washington State Employment Security Department will release January, February and March 2026 state and county employment data in April. The monthly cadence of employment information will resume in May with April 2026 data.

According to Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist: "The Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual benchmarking process was delayed as a result of last year's federal government shutdown. April will be a busy month with the release of three employment reports."

Washington state labor market information is available at the Employment Security Department website. Employers and job seekers can access detailed employment data by county and industry sector.