From December 2024 to March 2025, private-sector establishments in Washington saw gross job gains of 172,479 and gross job losses of 165,224, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund stated, “The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 7,255 jobs in the private sector during the first quarter of 2025.” In the previous quarter, net employment increased by 3,420.
Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track changes in employment at private-sector businesses from one quarter to the next. The net change in employment is calculated as the difference between gross job gains and gross job losses.
During the first quarter of 2025, gross job gains accounted for 5.7 percent of private-sector employment in Washington. Nationally, this figure was slightly lower at 5.6 percent. Gross job gains are made up of new jobs from expanding and opening establishments. Expanding establishments in Washington added 148,495 jobs during this period—similar to the previous quarter—while opening establishments contributed an additional 23,984 jobs, which was a decrease compared to the prior quarter.
Gross job losses represented 5.5 percent of private-sector employment in Washington during this time frame; nationally, they made up 5.4 percent. Contracting establishments lost 154,512 jobs in Washington—an increase over the prior quarter—while closing establishments lost 10,712 jobs, a notable decrease from before.
Seven out of eleven industry sectors in Washington reported that gross job gains surpassed gross job losses during this period. Retail trade experienced the largest net increase with a gain of 6,204 jobs due to higher gross job gains compared to losses within that sector. Education and health services had a net gain of 4,514 jobs and construction saw an increase of 2,906 jobs. Manufacturing recorded a net loss of 2,993 jobs—the largest decline among all sectors reviewed.
The BED data series provides detailed information on gross job gains and losses by industry subsector across all states and territories as well as by employer size class at the firm level.
The next release for Business Employment Dynamics covering second quarter data is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
Chris Rosenlund noted that more details about definitions and methodology can be found in technical documentation available online or by contacting BLS directly: “Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request.”
