Bellingham’s January 2024 jobs report presents a picture of moderate growth, defying national trends of slowdown and layoffs in some sectors. The city’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%, slightly below the national average of 4.0%. While specific data by industry and occupation is limited for smaller cities like Bellingham, available information suggests growth in certain key areas.
Highlights:
- Unemployment rate remains low: At 3.8%, Bellingham’s unemployment rate indicates a tight labor market, potentially advantageous for job seekers.
- Growth in tech and healthcare: Job postings in technology and healthcare, particularly software development and nursing, saw an uptick in January.
- Government hiring: The City of Bellingham actively recruited for various positions in January, including Public Safety Telecommunicators and a Human Resources Generalist.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Technology: Data from platforms like ZipRecruiter and Zippia shows an increase in software development and data annotation job postings.
- Healthcare: Nursing positions, especially Registered Nurses, saw higher demand in January.
- Government: The City of Bellingham posted openings for several roles, indicating potential growth in the public sector.
What Industries and Occupations Shrank:
- Limited data: Due to Bellingham’s size, comprehensive data on shrinking industries and occupations is unavailable. However, national trends suggest potential slowdowns in retail and hospitality.
Compare to Same Month Last Year:
- Year-over-year data unavailable: Bellingham’s specific January 2023 jobs data is not readily accessible, making precise year-over-year comparisons challenging.
Compare to Previous Month:
- Slight uptick in job postings: Compared to December 2023, job postings in key sectors like tech and healthcare showed a modest increase in January.
Future Outlook:
- Cautious optimism: While national economic concerns exist, Bellingham’s low unemployment rate and growth in key sectors suggest continued stability in the local job market.
10 Growing Occupations (Based on National Trends):
- Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software
- Registered Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers
- Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides
- Cybersecurity Analysts
- Data Analysts and Scientists
- Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
10 Companies Hiring Now (As of February 20, 2024):
- PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
- City of Bellingham
- Western Washington University
- Whatcom County
- The Bellingham Herald
- Haggen Food & Pharmacy
- Alaska Airlines
- Nooksack Creamery
- REI
- Trader Joe’s
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