Unemployment inched up in Clallam County and held steady in Jefferson County last month, state officials said Tuesday.
Jobless rates in both counties were well below levels reported in November 2014 as the North Olympic Peninsula economy continues its slow rebound.
Clallam County unemployment went from a revised 7.0 percent in October to a preliminary 7.4 percent in November, according to the latest estimates from the state Employment Security Department.
That rise comes despite a gain in the number of Clallam County citizens who were holding a job — from 24,576 in October to 24,947 in November.
Jefferson County’s jobless rate remained at 6.4 percent in November despite having 194 more citizens with a job — from 10,155 in October to 10,349 last month.
Jobless rates do not account for those who have quit looking for a job or commute to other counties for work.
In November 2014, unemployment was 9.0 percent in Clallam County and 8.6 percent in Jefferson County.
State figures
Employment Security officials said the state added 77,500 jobs from November 2014 to November 2015, including 67,900 private-sector jobs.
The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate moved from 5.2 percent in October to 5.3 percent in November, Employment Security said.
National unemployment remained at 5.0 percent last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Unemployment rates at the county level are not seasonally adjusted because the sample size is too small to accommodate the additional analysis, Employment Security officials said.
Whitman County had the lowest unemployment in the state at 3.9 percent in November; Ferry County had the highest unemployment at 8.6 percent, Employment Security said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
