Jobless rate up slightly on North Olympic Peninsula

Published 12:01 am Thursday, September 25, 2014

PORT ANGELES — Unemployment rose slightly in Clallam and Jefferson counties last month but remained lower than it was a year ago, the state Employment Security Department said.

Clallam County shed 160 jobs in August, all but 30 of which were government positions, as unemployment there went from a revised 6.7 percent in July to a preliminary 7.0 percent in August, Employment Security reported Tuesday.

The 2013 August unemployment rate in Clallam County was 8.5 percent.

Jefferson County gained 50 jobs last month, but its jobless rate rose from a revised 6.2 percent in July to a preliminary 6.5 percent in August.

In August 2013, the Jefferson County unemployment rate was 8.1 percent.

Unemployment rates can differ from the trend in jobs gained or lost because of changes in the size of the labor pool.

The Jefferson County workforce grew from 11,010 in July to 11,300 in August, according to Employment Security estimates.

San Juan County had the state’s lowest jobless rate last month at 3.4 percent.

Grays Harbor County had the highest unemployment at 8.6 percent, state officials said.

Statewide unemployment remained at 5.6 percent in August, while the national jobless rate went from 6.2 percent to 6.1 percent.