The unemployment rate in Washington state stayed the same in November, with 4.5 percent of the state’s residents unemployed according to the state Employment Security Department.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the state added 9,800 jobs in November despite the unemployment rate staying the same.

“While the unemployment rate didn’t change, Washington’s economic outlook is bright,” said Paul Turek, economist for ESD. “Unemployment stands at a record low, businesses are adding jobs and more people are joining the labor force.”

Washington was still above the national unemployment rate of 4.1 percent in November.

Still, the reports show an improvement from November 2016, in which the state had a 5.2 percent unemployment rate. Of all the job sectors, November’s report found that professional and business services had the biggest increase in jobs with 3,800, followed by education and health services with 2,900.