The August unemployment report showed an increase of 20 construction jobs in Clallam County, part of the increase of 4,000 statewide, while Jefferson County had no such increase, according to the latest monthly unemployment report from the state Employment Security Department.
August unemployment increased to 10 percent in Clallam County, up from 9.5 percent in July, and to 9.7 percent in Jefferson County, up almost a full percentage point from 8.8 percent in July, the department said Tuesday.
This year’s August rates mirrored those of August 2011. In Clallam County, the rate was identical to last year’s, while in Jefferson, it was slightly up from 9.6 percent for August 2011.
There was a net loss of 120 jobs in Clallam and 140 jobs in Jefferson, said Elizabeth Court, regional economist for Employment Security.
Clallam County
Clallam lost 180 local, state and federal jobs, including seasonal employment, but gained 60 private-sector jobs.
“The big loss, which has been the big story of the year, is in government jobs,” Court said.
There were 60 jobs added in the retail sector, 50 in manufacturing and 20 in construction, she said.
In all of Washington, 4,000 more construction jobs were created between July and August, mainly in residential construction, Court said.
“Private-sector jobs, which are really the key to getting the economy going again, are strengthening, which is good,” she added.
Clallam County’s jobless rate has been about 10 percent for more than a year, hitting a high of 11.1 percent in March and a low of 9.2 percent in October 2011.
The July unemployment rate was identical to the July 2011 rate.
Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, while government job losses were flat, there were 140 private-sector jobs that were lost, Court said.
“It was spread evenly throughout every sector,” she said.
“There were losses in construction, losses in retail, losses in trade, transportation and utilities,” Court said.
Jefferson County’s jobless rate reached 10.6 percent in February.
It has been about 9 percent since April.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.