The employment picture continues to brighten, as the latest national figures show the addition of 171,000 jobs, adding to a positive growth of 1,200 jobs in Washington the last state report.

In a new state economic forecast, however, the risks to Washington are of increasing concern. Local housing and construction continue to improve, but an economic slowdown in China, continuing struggles in Europe, and the “fiscal cliff” looming in Congress are all of increasing concern, according to the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, which met Nov. 1:

“Overall our preliminary November economic forecast for Washington is a bit weaker than the forecast adopted in September due to a slightly weaker U.S. forecast. Our new Washington employment growth forecast for 2012 through 2017 averages 1.8% per year compared to 1.9% per year in the September forecast. Our new forecast for personal income growth averages 4.9% per year in 2012 through 2017 compared to 5.0% per year in the September forecast.”