PORT ANGELES — Unemployment dipped slightly on the North Olympic Peninsula in February, state officials said.
Clallam County’s unemployment rate dropped from a revised 9.2 percent in January to a preliminary 8.7 percent last month, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Jefferson County unemployment went from a revised 7.9 percent in January to a preliminary 7.8 percent in February, according to the latest estimates.
Unemployment rates were higher in both counties in February 2015. The rate was 9.5 percent in Clallam County and 8.3 percent in Jefferson County.
Unemployment rates do not factor in those who commute to other counties or have stopped looking for work.
Clallam County last month had 25,017 working residents and 2,382 actively seeking a job, Employment Security said.
Jefferson County had 10,520 employed residents and 885 seeking work.
From January 2015 to January 2016 — the last complete data set for the North Olympic Peninsula — Clallam County posted one-year gains of 310 private sector jobs and 240 government positions for a total of 550 jobs added.
Jefferson County added 50 private sector jobs and gained 20 government jobs over that span.
Meanwhile, the seasonally-adjusted statewide jobless rate remained at 5.8 percent in February, while national unemployment remained at 4.9 percent, according to Employment Security and 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, Employment Security officials said.
King County had the lowest unemployment in the state at 4.8 percent in February, while Ferry County had the highest jobless rate at 13.3 percent.
The March employment report for counties is scheduled to be released April 19.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
