North Olympic Peninsula unemployment rates inched downward last month while 532 left the labor force, state officials said.
Clallam County unemployment went from a revised 8.2 percent in July to a preliminary 7.6 percent in August, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Jefferson County’s jobless rate dipped from a revised 7.7 percent in July to a preliminary 7.2 percent in August, officials said.
Clallam County had 25,243 working citizens and 2,068 who were actively seeking work last month. An estimated 355 left the workforce from July to August.
Jefferson County had 10,603 working residents and 823 looking for a job last month. An estimated 177 Jefferson County residents left the labor force in August, Employment Security said.
Unemployment rates do not account for those who have quit looking for a job or commute to other counties.
Jobless rates were lower in both counties in August of 2015 — at 7.4 percent in Clallam County and 6.5 percent in Jefferson County.
San Juan County had last month’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.9 percent. Ferry County had the highest jobless rate at 9.8 percent.
The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate went from 5.8 percent in July to 5.7 percent in August, while national unemployment remained at 4.9 percent, according to Employment Security and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Unemployment rates at the county level are not seasonally adjusted because the sample size is too small to accommodate the additional analysis, Employment Security officials said.
Washington employers added an estimated 2,600 nonfarm jobs in August and 95,300 for the year, Employment Security said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.