Peninsula: Jefferson, Clallam jobless rates in different directions

Unemployment last month on the North Olympic Peninsula improved slightly in Jefferson County, but rose 0.4 percent in Clallam County.

Jefferson County posted a 5.1 percent jobless rate in July, compared with 5.2 percent in June and a 2001 high of 7.0 percent in February.

Clallam County’s decline to 7.0 percent in July contrasts with 6.6 percent in June, but is still far below the 2001 high of 9.3 percent in February.

Washington’s unemployment rate dropped by three-tenths of a percentage point to 5.6 percent last month, reflecting the usual abundance of summertime jobs. The national unemployment rate for July was 4.5 percent, unchanged from the June number.