Although 2011 has had some good news for job seekers, overall, officials say it’s not time to celebrate yet. This year saw less people receiving unemployment than 2010, which was a record breaking year. But more people are running out of unemployment benefits as well, finding it difficult to get back in the workforce.

 

Cheryl Hutchinson, Communications Director for Washington State Employment Security Department says that the economy is improving, but we still have a long way to go.

 

Hutchinson says the road to recovery is a long one, adding that the jobs weren’t lost over night, and they won’t be regained over night.

 

Hutchinson added that for the most part, WashingtonState’s unemployment rate has remained similar to the national unemployment rate in 2011.