Tuition at Washington State Public Colleges and Universities

In 1990, full-time tuition and fees were $1,454 a year at community colleges, and $3,276 a year for the University of Washington. Since then, tuition and fees have increased dramatically. Full-time tuition and fees will total $4,000 per year at Washington’s community colleges in 2012-2013. At the University of Washington, tuition and fees total will total $12,383 next year, more than three times that of 1990.

For a more in-depth interactive chart, click here »

From Pay It Forward Last updated 10/25/2012

Employee Benefits

Washington firms are less likely to provide every kind of benefit now than in 2002, when the Employment Security Department began collecting data. The proportion of firms providing health insurance for full-time workers dropped from 76% in 2002 to 53% in 2011, and fewer firms are providing retirement and paid leave benefits.

Part-time workers – the majority of whom are women – are far less likely to receive every type of employer-sponsored benefit. In 2011, only 17% of businesses provided retirement benefits and 23% provided vacation to part-time employees. Just 12% offered health benefits to part-timers.

Source: Washington State Employment Security Department

Data updated annually Last updated 06/18/2012

Monthly Unemployment Rate

The average unemployment rate was 9.2% during 2011, falling to 8.7% by the end of the year. The unemployment rate continued to decline into the early months of 2012, but then halted at 8.4% through the first half of the year. The rate began to fall again during the summer, reaching 7.5% by December 2012 and 7.0% by April 2013.

These official unemployment numbers do not include the many discouraged people who are no longer actively looking for employment, and others who are working part time or in “make-do” jobs because of the scarcity of desirable jobs. Some of these individuals are captured in the underemployment rate, which reached 17% for Washingtonians in 2012.

Source: Washington State Employment Security Department

Data updated monthly Last updated 5/15/2013

Poverty

Washington’s overall poverty rate has increased during the post-recession years, remaining persistently high in 2011. More than one in eight Washingtonians lived below the federal poverty level in 2011 - or income less than $23,021 for a family of four. Rates increased for those earning near-poverty incomes, as well. In 2011, three in ten Washingtonians earned less than 200% of the federal poverty level. For families with children, rates are even higher – more than one in seven Washington families with children under 18 lived below the federal poverty level in 2011.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey

Data updated annually Last updated 09/20/2012

Average Employment

Washington’s average employment numbers are rising again post-recession, as the state has begun to slowly add jobs in most sectors. During the previous recession of the early 2000s, the state lost an average of 55,000 jobs before sectors began adding again. During the Great Recession, Washington’s industries shed more than three times that – nearly 173,000 jobs – before beginning to add in 2011. Data through the end of 2012 shows slow growth is continuing, and nearly 24,000 jobs were added in the first three months of 2013. Despite some down months, more than 77,000 jobs have been added over the last year.

Note: Data for 2013 is preliminary.

Source: Washington State Employment Security Department

Data updated monthly Last updated 5/15/2013

Minimum wage vs. Cost of Living in Washington state

For nearly 300,000 people working at or near Washington’s minimum wage, the 15-cent cost-of-living adjustment (to $9.19 per hour) scheduled for January 1st, 2013 will help their paychecks keep up with the cost of living – but it’s far short of what the vast majority need to make ends meet. Note: More than 80% of minimum wage earners in Washington state are over 20 years of age.

Last updated 11/01/2012