Unemployment rates crept up in Clallam and Jefferson counties in January as the North Olympic Peninsula’s combined labor force grew by 1,220 residents, state officials reported Tuesday.
The Clallam County jobless rate went from a revised 9.4 percent in December to a preliminary 10.3 percent in January.
Jefferson County employment went from 8.9 percent in December to an estimated 9.3 percent in January, the state Employment Security Department reported.
Clallam County had an estimated 24,780 working residents and 2,850 looking for a job.
The labor force in Clallam County grew by an estimated 830 residents from December to January — from 26,810 to 27,640 — while Jefferson County’s workforce grew by 390 from 11,060 to 11,450.
A breakdown of the type of jobs gained or lost in January was not provided with the monthly estimates.
Jobless rates do not factor those who are underemployed, commute to other counties or have quit looking for work.
The statewide unemployment rate went from 6.3 percent in December to 6.4 percent in January.
Employment Security said Washington employers added 18,500 private sector jobs and shed 200 public sector jobs in January.
For the year, the agency estimates that statewide employment increased by 100,500 jobs from January 2014 to January 2015.
Of the 100,500 jobs added over the past year, 89,800 were in the private sector and 10,700 in the public sector, officials said.
The North Olympic Peninsula’s employment picture was similar in January 2014, when Clallam County’s jobless rate was 9.8 percent and Jefferson County unemployment was 9.2 percent.
The national unemployment rate for January was 5.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
February unemployment statistics for counties will be released March 24.
