North Olympic Peninsula employers added 310 jobs last month, but Clallam and Jefferson unemployment was up slightly because of a larger labor force, new state estimates show.
While Clallam County gained 210 nonfarm jobs, the jobless rate rose from a revised 7.5 percent in April to a preliminary 8.2 percent in May, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Jefferson County gained 100 jobs in May, including 80 in service industries. But its jobless rate climbed from 7.2 percent to 8.0 percent, Employment Security estimates.
Clallam County’s labor force expanded from 26,550 to 26,820 over the month.
Jefferson County’s labor force increased to 11,110 in April to 11,230 in May.
Unemployment statistics do not count those who commute to other counties for work or have stopped looking for a job.
Clallam County added 140 jobs in service trades and 70 new jobs in goods-producing industries, which covers manufacturing, natural resources and mining.
The county shed 20 government jobs and lost 10 jobs in information and financial activities and 10 jobs in professional and business services.
The only Jefferson County industry that shed jobs last month was government, which lost 20 positions.
Clallam County had 24,620 residents who were holding a job in May. Jefferson County had 10,330 employed.
State unemployment held steady at 6.1 percent last month, and national unemployment remained at 6.3 percent.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Washington’s private sector gained 5,200 jobs in May while the public sector lost jobs.
King and San Juan counties tied for the lowest estimated unemployment at 4.7 percent in May.
Grays Harbor County had the highest unemployment at 10.5 percent.
