BUSINESS BRIEFS: Port Angeles salon in business after renovation; grand opening set June 13 . . . and other items

Published 12:01 am Thursday, May 21, 2015

PORT ANGELES — Salon 501, 501 East First St., has opened for business after a complete renovation.

A grand opening event will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13.

The full-service salon offers care for hair, nails, massage, facials, permanent makeup and waxing.

Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome.

For more information, phone owner Tonni Petty at 360-477-4437.

First Federal adds 2 to its lending staff

PORT ANGELES — First Federal has announced the transition of two internal employees to the Commercial Lending Department.

Kasi O’Leary has accepted the role of commercial relationship manager after spending many years supporting the commercial lending process as a commercial credit analyst, portfolio analyst and credit underwriter, according to a news release.

She began her career with First Federal in 2005.

Jesse Long recently transitioned from managing the Sixth Street and eastside branches to the role of commercial relationship manager.

Since 2004, he has gained experience in areas including marketing, financial planning, business banking and consumer, residential and commercial lending with advanced credit fundamentals.

Jobless rate drops

OLYMPIA — Washington state’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent last month, officials said Wednesday.

The latest report from the state’s Employment Security Department shows that the jobless rate dropped from March’s 5.9 percent and that the state gained 8,200 new jobs from March to April.

Washington state’s April jobless rate is the lowest since July 2008, when it was at 5.4 percent, state labor economist Paul Turek said.

Unemployment figures for Clallam and Jefferson counties are expected to be announced Tuesday.

The national unemployment rate for April was 5.4 percent.

“I think what we’re seeing is continuing momentum that’s been building in the labor market,” Turek said.

“I think the longer we move away from the recession, the more confident businesses become in making investments and adding to the stock of the employed as they’re seeing less of a probability of a downturn re-occuring.”

Since last year, Washington state has seen growth in major industries, adding an estimated 110,700 jobs since April 2014, with 98,300 of those jobs being added to the private sector and 12,400 in the public sector.

The jobless rate in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett region of western Washington was 4.3 percent, down from 4.5 percent in March.

The leisure and hospitality sector saw the largest gains from March to April, with an increase of 2,500 jobs, followed by wholesale trade, which gained 2,300 jobs, and then education and health services, with 1,500 jobs.

Other industries that saw increases include financial activities, manufacturing and retail trade.

Three industries saw decreases: construction lost 400 jobs in April, and professional and business services lost 200, as did and transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Two different surveys are used to calculate unemployment figures and job losses and gains.

The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively looking for work.

People who have stopped looking for work aren’t counted.

The job gains and losses estimates are based on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of businesses.

As of April, 196,600 people in Washington state were unemployed and looking for work.