Local unemployment rises in October

Grays Harbor and Pacific County had the 4th and 3rd highest unemployment in the state for October.

In figures released by the Washington State Employment Security Department on Tuesday, Grays Harbor added over 600 jobs between September and October although the local unemployment rate rose to to 6.8%. This places us at the 4th highest unemployment in Washington.

Grays Harbor added a total of 630 to the labor force in October, with 558 being added to Total Employment and 72 to the Total Unemployment figures.

Pacific County dropped from 7.2% to 6.5% in September, but rose back to 7.1% in October, placing them 3rd in the state. While the total employment rose by 9 in October in Pacific County, the total unemployment added 56.

Statewide, Washington’s economy lost 1,600 jobs in October and the unemployment rate fell to 4.5%.

	Grays Harbor October	Grays Harbor September	Difference	Pacific County October	Pacific County September	Difference
Labor Force	29,294	28,664	630	8,455	8,390	65
Total Employment	27,315	26,757	558	7,852	7,843	9
Total Unemployment	1,979	1,907	72	603	547	56
Unemployment Rate	6.80%	6.70%	0.10%	7.10%	6.50%	0.60%