PORT ANGELES — North Olympic Peninsula unemployment rose slightly in December, according to state officials.
The Clallam County unemployment rate went from a revised 8.8 percent in November to a preliminary 9.3 percent last month, the state Employment Security Department said Tuesday.
Jefferson County joblessness went from 8.1 percent in November to 8.6 percent in December, officials said.
A breakdown of the number and type of jobs gained or lost in December was not released with the monthly estimates.
The unemployment rate measures the number of jobless people looking for work out of the total workforce.
Clallam County had 24,590 employed residents and 2,510 seeking a job in December.
There were 10,420 working and 980 looking for a job in Jefferson County last month, Employment Security said.
Unemployment estimates do not factor in those who have stopped looking for work or commute to other counties for work.
Peninsula unemployment was roughly the same at the end of 2013.
Clallam County’s jobless rate in December 2013 was 9 percent, while Jefferson County unemployment was 8.4 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate went from 6.2 percent in November to 6.3 percent in December.
Employment Security said Washington employers added 83,000 jobs over the year, the most since 1997.
The national unemployment rate for December is 5.6 percent.
