PORT ANGELES — A growing work force contributed to a half-percent increase in North Olympic Peninsula unemployment, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
While the state’s jobless rate remained flat, the Clallam County jobless rate rose from a revised 9.1 percent in October to 9.6 percent in November, and Jefferson County’s unemployment rate rose to 9.0 percent, up from 8.5 percent in October.
“The labor force grew in both counties,” said Elizabeth Scott, a regional economist for Employment Security.
“We knew certain people would be coming back [to the work force] as things picked up, and things are starting to pick up. That’s one of the reasons you see that uptick.”
Clallam County’s work force grew by 410 last month — from 30,230 to 30,640 — with 2,950 job seekers looking for work in November.
Jefferson County’s labor force grew by 150 — from 12,960 to 13,110 — with 1,180 unemployed last month.
Scott said Clallam County lost 140 nonfarm jobs but gained 40 in retail trade and 30 in transportation and warehousing in November. New unemployment claims rose from 668 to 748 in Clallam County.
“Jefferson County was very flat,” Scott said.
New unemployment claims in Jefferson County rose from 183 to 207.
Unemployment in both counties fell by a half-percent from September to October.
The Peninsula’s unemployment rate crested in February at 11.5 percent in Clallam County and 10.9 percent in Jefferson County.
Highest in February
Washington state’s jobless rate for November was unchanged from October at 9.2 percent, with only an estimated net gain of 100 jobs statewide over the month, Employment Security said.
“Job growth is in a holding pattern,” Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause said.
“We’re really experiencing just about the most tepid and uneventful recovery we’ve experienced since World War II,” said Greg Weeks, director of the department’s labor market and economic analysis section.
The national unemployment rate rose from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent.
Despite predictions that the recovery will take years, Scott said: “Basically a lot of the economic data is really good.”
The growth rate, gross domestic product, small-business optimism, consumer price index and the stock market are improving, Scott said.
Whitman County in Eastern Washington had the lowest unemployment rate in November at 5.0 percent.
Clark County in Southwest Washington had the highest at 13.1 percent.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
