A slow-but-steady decrease in unemployment continued on the North Olympic Peninsula in April as Clallam and Jefferson counties each had slight dips in jobless rates for the third consecutive month, state officials said.
Clallam County unemployment went from a revised 8.4 percent in March to a preliminary 7.9 percent in April, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
There were 25,106 employed Clallam County citizens and 2,163 looking for a job in April, officials said.
Jefferson County unemployment went from a preliminary 7.3 percent in March to a revised 7.2 percent in April, according to estimates.
There were 10,596 working Jefferson County residents and 825 unemployed.
Employment Security considers someone unemployed if he or she does not have a job, is available for work and has actively sought work in the past four weeks.
In January, unemployment was 9.2 percent in Clallam County and 7.9 percent in Jefferson County.
Clallam County employers have added 390 jobs in the past year, 330 of which are government jobs, Employment Security said.
Jefferson County employers added 190 jobs throughout the year, 150 of which are private-sector positions.
Statewide numbers
Despite the addition of 11,200 jobs statewide, the seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent in April, officials said.
The state added 102,900 jobs between April 2015 and April 2016, including 90,800 private-sector positions, Employment Security officials 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, officials have said.
Lowest in state
King County had the lowest unemployment in the state last month at 4.1 percent.
Ferry County had the highest unemployment rate in April at 10.8 percent.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
