Grays Harbor and Pacific County both in the top 3 for highest unemployment rates

Grays Harbor and Pacific County were both in the top three for the highest unemployment rates in the state.

According to the Washington State Employment Security Department’s not seasonally adjusted numbers, Grays Harbor’s May rate of 6.9% was the third highest in the state with only Pacific County, at 7.0%, and Ferry County, at 10.1%, being higher.

However, Grays Harbor’s unemployment rate dropped from April’s 7.5% as the labor force and total number of those employed grew while those on unemployment fell.

There were 302 more people employed in May than in April and 178 less on unemployment.

Comparing Grays Harbor’s numbers to last May, the labor force grew as did those employed but there were more people on unemployment this year than last year and the unemployment rate was lower in 2018.

May was the sixth month in a row that saw a higher rate than in the previous year.

In Pacific County the labor force and total number of those employed grew from April and those on unemployment fell.

Those employed grew by 123 while those on unemployment dropped by 61 resulting in the unemployment rate falling from 7.8% in April to 7.0% in May.

More information on Washington State Unemployment can be found at https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/labor-force?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery and https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/monthly-employment-report?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Grays Harbor	April 2019	May 2019*	May 2018
Labor Force	28,681	28,805	28,167
Total Employment	26,521	26,823	26,403
Total Unemployment	2,160	1,982	1,764
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	6.9%	6.3%

*Latest month not seasonally adjusted

Pacific County	April 2019	May 2019*	May 2018
Labor Force	8,309	8,371	8,352
Total Employment	7,659	7,782	7,826
Total Unemployment	650	589	526
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	7.0%	6.3%

*Latest month not seasonally adjusted