PORT ANGELES — The jobless rate in July remained at 9.3 percent in Clallam County and fell from 8.7 in June to 8.4 percent in July in Jefferson County, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Statewide unemployment dipped from 9.0 percent in June to 8.9 percent last month.
The national unemployment rate held steady at 9.5 percent.
Elizabeth Scott, regional economist for the state Employment Security Department, said Jefferson County gained 30 jobs and Clallam County added 10 last month.
“The indicators are up,” Scott said.
“One thing that was disappointing about it was consumer retail sales. They were up, but not as strong as expected.”
There were 2,760 Clallam County residents looking for work out of a 29,730-member labor force last month.
A year ago, the Clallam jobless rate was 9.5 percent.
There were 1,090 unemployed Jefferson County residents in July out of a 12,890-member work force in July.
The unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in Jefferson County a year ago.
Unemployment has been slowing coming down on the North Olympic Peninsula since February, when it peaked at 11.5 percent in Clallam County and 10.9 percent in Jefferson County.
Scott compared the current recovery to a slow swim — it’s not like a sprint but it’s not like treading water.
“For Jefferson, things are really looking up because we saw growth in construction and growth in trade, transportation and utilities,” Scott said.
“With the exception of government, every sector saw some growth.”
Clallam County had 584 new unemployment claims in July, compared to 624 in June.
First-time unemployment claims held steady in Jefferson County at 179.
————————————
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
