Jobless rate dips slightly in Clallam, level in Jefferson during first two months of year

Unemployment in Clallam County’s labor market area dipped slightly over the first two months of 2005, according to state Employment Security Department figures released Tuesday.

In Clallam’s labor market area centered in Port Angeles, the unemployment rate in February was 6.5 percent, a slight improvement over January’s 6.7 percent rate. The February 2004 rate was 7.1 percent.

Jefferson County’s jobless rate was 6.3 percent in both January and February. That compares with a 7.1 percent rate in February 2004.

Beginning in January, the state adopted a new method of calculating unemployment statistics based on federal Bureau of Labor Statistics standards for all states. The February 2004 jobless rates were adjusted to coincide with the new calculations, Employment Security said.