PORT ANGELES — Unemployment inched down on the North Olympic Peninsula last month, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Clallam County’s jobless rate fell from a revised 9.8 percent in August to 9.2 percent in September.
Jefferson County unemployment dipped from 9 percent to 8.8 percent last month, state numbers showed.
Elizabeth Scott, regional economist for Employment Security, said the modest drop in unemployment is a sign that things have bottomed out.
“Frankly, everyone would like to see more growth soon,” Scott said, “but I think it’s definitely a sign to be optimistic.”
Jefferson County added 10 new jobs in the goods-producing sector, Scott said. Clallam County gained 60 new jobs in retail trade.
“Continued claims for unemployment in both counties are down,” Scott said.
Claims drop off
Continued unemployment claims were down from 1,201 to 993 in Clallam County, and from 401 to 379 in Jefferson County last month.
Overall, there were 2,760 jobless Clallam County workers out of a 29,900-member labor force.
Jefferson County had 1,140 unemployed out of a 13,000-member workforce.
The unemployment data does not reflect the people who stopped looking for work.
The jobless rate has been inching down on the North Olympic Peninsula since February, when it crested at 11.5 percent in Clallam County and 10.9 percent in Jefferson County.
Statewide, the unemployment rate held steady at 9 percent in September.
The national unemployment rate remained at 9.6 percent last month.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
