In August, unemployment in Washington stood at 4.2 percent, with the situation in the Puget Sound area being a good deal tighter.
Employers face increased competition when they have to enter the labor market.
In addition to the usual compensation packages, an increasing number of employers in the region are offering stock options, hiring bonuses, incentive pay and yearly bonuses. Meanwhile, the workload of Staff Employment has ballooned. In the first six months of 1998, Staff Employment has filled 778 jobs, a 25 percent increase over the previous year. While the UW continues to be a highly valued employer for some positions, this is not uniformly true. Employers who are attempting to fill positions and who are seeking the most qualified individual in the market may want to take these additional steps to ensure a strong applicant pool and a successful hiring process, officials at Staff Employment say.