North Olympic Peninsula employers added more than 250 jobs in September as Clallam and Jefferson county unemployment rates dipped slightly for the fifth consecutive month in September, state officials said.
Clallam County gained 201 workers as its jobless rate went from a revised 5.5 percent in August to a preliminary 5.3 percent in September, the state Employment Security Department estimated Tuesday.
Jefferson County added 51 jobs and its unemployment went from a revised 5.0 percent in August to a preliminary 4.9 percent last month, Employment Security said.
Jobless rates in both counties have been lower every month since April and have been trending down throughout the year. Clallam County unemployment was 8.6 percent in January. Jefferson County unemployment was 7.6 percent to begin the year.
In September 2017, the jobless rates were 6.2 percent in Clallam County and 5.9 percent in Jefferson County, Employment Security said.
Clallam County had 26,287 employed residents and 1,464 seeking work last month. Jefferson County had 11,360 workers and 587 looking for work in September, Employment Security said.
Meanwhile, statewide unemployment dipped from 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent in September and national unemployment went from 3.9 percent to 3.7 percent, according to Employment Security and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The state gained 4,500 jobs in September and 99,700 jobs for the year.
Chelan County had the lowest unemployment in the state in September at 3.1 percent, followed by San Juan (3.2 percent) and King (3.4 percent) counties.
Ferry County had the highest unemployment at 7.5 percent, followed by Pend Oreille (5.6 percent) and Wahkiakum (5.6 percent) counties.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.