I have one question about the article. The last paragraph states: Desiree Phair, a regional labor economist with Employment Security, said unemployment in the region is down to about 8.5 percent, whereas one year ago it was at about 4 percent.

If this is accurate, unemployment has more than doubled in the Seattle region, in just the last year... not good news. Is this accurate, or am I misreading it?

Very well said. Thanks for sharing.