Joblessness inches up on North Olympic Peninsula

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, November 26, 2014

PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula shed 340 leisure and hospitality jobs in October as unemployment moved upward in Clallam and Jefferson counties, state officials reported Tuesday.

Clallam County employers cut 230 leisure and hospitality jobs last month as county unemployment climbed from a revised 6.8 percent in September to a preliminary 8.3 percent in October, the state Employment Security Department said.

Jefferson County lost 110 leisure and hospitality jobs and its jobless rate went from a revised 6.4 percent in September to a preliminary 7.7 percent in October, state officials said.

All told, Clallam County shed 80 jobs in private sector and gained 70 government jobs for a net loss of 10 positions.

Unemployment rates do not factor those who commute to other counties or have stopped looking for a job.

Clallam County gained 60 goods-producing jobs and added 50 jobs in education and health services to help offset seasonal losses in leisure and hospitality.

There were 24,790 employed Clallam County residents and 2,230 seeking for a job in October, Employment Security estimated.

Jefferson County lost a total of 100 private-sector jobs and gained 40 government jobs for a net loss of 60 positions last month.

There were 10,440 employed Jefferson County residents and 880 seeking work.

Statewide unemployment went from a revised 5.7 percent in September to a preliminary 6 percent in October.

National unemployment dipped from 5.9 percent to 5.8 percent, according to Employment Security and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Asotin County in the southeast corner of the state tied King County for the lowest unemployment at 4.5 percent.

Grays Harbor had the highest unemployment of the 39 counties at 9.9 percent, Employment Security officials said.