PORT ANGELES — Private-sector job growth triggered a 0.4 percent dip in unemployment on the North Olympic Peninsula last month, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Clallam County’s jobless rate went from a revised 10.1 percent in June to a preliminary 9.7 percent in July.
Jefferson County’s unemployment fell from 9.5 percent to 9.1 percent over that span.
“The private sector in both counties was definitely up,” said Elizabeth Scott, regional economist for Employment Security.
“Things are finally looking better.”
Clallam County added 130 new jobs, all of which were in the private sector, over the month.
“Those were basically in goods-producing,” Scott said.
Goods-producing covers natural resources, mining and construction jobs.
“We also had a slight uptick in retail,” Scott added.
Jefferson County gained 130 private-sector jobs and lost 50 government jobs for a net gain of 80 jobs. There were 50 new service-providing jobs and 30 new goods-producing jobs in Jefferson County.
“Those are really good numbers,” Scott said.
The state unemployment rate remained at 9.3 percent despite the gain of 5,700 jobs. The private sector accounted for 5,200 of those jobs.
Over the past year, Washington’s private sector has added 46,000 jobs while the public sector has lost 8,800.
Employment security has reported private-sector job growth in each of the past 11 months.
“That’s really important,” Scott said.
“We need private-sector jobs. Those are key to the recovery.”
Unemployment rates don’t count those who have quit looking for work.
According to Employment Security, Jefferson County had 1,150 unemployment citizens out of a 12,660-member workforce. The workforce in Jefferson Country shrank by 230 in July.
Clallam County had 2,840 unemployed residents out of a 29,250-member labor force, which shrank by 190 last month.
Clallam County’s unemployment rate was exactly the same in July 2010 as it was this July.
Jefferson County’s jobless rate was 0.2 percent higher in July 2010.
Unemployment peaked in both counties in February 2010 — at 12.3 percent in Clallam County and
11.4 percent in Jefferson County.
The national unemployment rate dipped from
9.2 percent to 9.1 percent in July.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.