Real-Time Employer Demand

Monthly report February 2022

The Employer Demand and Supply-Demand Reports have been updated through January 2022.

January 2022 data shows that the ratio of job postings compared to unemployment benefit claimants has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The ratio for the number of job postings compared to those interacting with the unemployment insurance system from January 1 through January 31, 2021 was 2.48 job postings, whereas the January 2021 ratio was 0.28 job postings.

Supply demand at a glance

For this update, we will be covering the month-over-month difference between December 2021 and January 2022. 

Month-over-month review

Total job postings decreased from 214,316 in December 2021 to 176,006 in January 2022, a decrease of 38,310 or 17.9 percent. The number of new job postings also experienced a decrease going from 67,333 new postings in December 2021 to 62,522 new postings in January 2022, a decrease of 4,811 or 7.1 percent.

Without the Seattle-King County region, the number of total job postings comparing December 2021 to January 2022 decreased by 20,599 or 19.3 percent, going from 106,794 to 86,195. The number of new job postings also experienced a decrease of 2,716 or 8.2 percent, going from 33,066 to 30,350 during this period.

In a month-over-month comparison, the Seattle-King County and Tacoma-Pierce workforce development areas (WDAs) experienced the largest decreases in the number of total job postings, with a reduction of 17,711 and 4,388, or 16.5 and 19.4 percent, respectively. All WDAs experienced decreases in the number of job postings during this time.

All occupations experienced a decrease in the number of job postings comparing December 2021 to January 2022.

Occupations with the smallest proportional decrease in total job postings comparing  December 2021 and January 2022 were:

  • Healthcare practitioners and technical with a decrease of 1,421 or 6.9 percent;

  • Personal care and service with a decrease of 590 or 14.2 percent; and

  • Installation, maintenance, and repair with a decrease of 1,218 or 15.1 percent.

Occupations with the largest decrease in total job postings comparing December 2021 and January 2022 were:

  • Office and administrative support with a decrease of 5,265 or 21.9 percent;

  • Management with a decrease of 4,472 or 16.1 percent; and

  • Sales and related with a decrease of 4,228 or 19.8 percent.

All of this information, year-over-year analysis and changes occurring at the occupational level (Posting Analysis tab) can be found in the Supply Demand tool.

Thank you for your continued interest. If you have any feedback or comments about products and services, please contact us at LMEASystemPerformance@esd.wa.gov. For more labor market and economic information, please visit https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo.

CHA Washington