Unemployment Hits Record

Washington’s unemployment rate went to 15.4% in April making it the highest jobless rate since the state started keeping comparable records in the 1970s. The previous record was set in November 1982 at 12.2%. Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine says the April numbers were expected to go up based on the record number of individuals who have filed for unemployment benefits since March and they are likely to continue to increase during May.