Washington lost jobs in May

Washington's slow economic recovery is sputtering.

The Employment Security Commission said Wednesday that the state lost 700 jobs in May, following eight consecutive months of job growth. Officials pegged Washington's seasonally-adjusted jobless rate at 9.1 percent, down slightly from a revised April rate of 9.2 percent.

The largest drop in jobs came in wholesale trade, which recorded a loss of 2,100. Other areas that suffered included retail trade, financial activities and transportation.

Leisure and hospitality recorded a large increase in jobs. Construction employment was also up.

Washington's jobless rate hasn't been at 9 percent or below in more than two years and has trended as high as 10 percent. But the state economy has added an estimated 52,400 jobs since the low point of the recession.