The Distressed Areas List identifies all counties with a three-year average unemployment rate equal to or greater than 120 percent of the statewide unemployment rate. For 2008, Washington had a three year average of 5.0 percent unemployment, down from 5.6 in 2007.  All 16 counties on 2007's distressed list remain for 2008, and Clallam and Mason counties have been added. This brings the total up to eighteen counties on the current list. 

Map of Distressed Counties - 2008

Source data: Washington State Employment Security Department

All distressed counties are considered rural (see below).

Rural Counties 2008

A rural county has a population density of less than 100 persons per square mile as defined in RCW 43 160 020 section 12 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/).

Source data: Washington State Office of Financial Management

The chart below shows the average unemployment from January 2005 to December 2007.

Source data: Washington State Employment Security Department