Pasadena, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/25/2011 -- The state's economy lost 18,400 jobs in September, the first monthly loss since August 2010 and the most since early 2009. The officials are still confused whether this is a good or a bad news. This is because the unemployment rate has dropped to 9.1 percent last month from that of 9.3 percent in August.

The government sector lost around 10,800 jobs mainly in K-12 and higher education due to budget cuts. The restaurant industry suffered the most, among private sector, losing 3,700 jobs. The initial estimate of job losses in Seattle during September went back to the time of the Great Recession. The state economy, then, had lost 20,000 jobs a month.

The Seattle metropolitan area's unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent from that of 8.9 percent in August. Only three sectors, including manufacturing, education & health service and professional & business service, showed job gains.

Among the sectors suffering job loss were leisure & hospitality losing 3,400 jobs, construction losing 1,800 jobs, information down by 1,100jobs, transportation, warehousing and utilities down by 900 jobs, wholesale trade losing 900 jobs, other services down by 500 jobs, financial activities with 200 jobs lost and retail trade losing 200 jobs.

In the past one year, a net gain of 27,300 jobs was seen in the state's economy; the private sector added 44,600 jobs, but a loss of 17,300 jobs was seen in the government sector. The state estimated nearly 317,594 people in Washington to be unemployed and seeking work in September.

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