September jobs map

The September jobless rate in Pacific County fell to its lowest level in more than a year, according to recent data released by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Preliminary figures released by the state agency in late October estimated that the county’s unemployment rate fell from 5.8% in August to 4.9% in September. That mark is below the 5.4% rate from September 2023, and the lowest the unemployment rate has been in the county since that June, when it was also 4.9%.

Overall, the county unemployment rate ranked 34th out of Washington’s 39 counties in September and ahead of neighboring Grays Harbor (5.5%) and Wahkiakum (5.6%) counties. As usual, Ferry County in the northeast corner of the state had the highest unemployment rate for the month, at 6.2%.

The statewide unemployment rate sat at 4.2% for September, down from 4.8% in August and up from 4% a year ago. Eighteen counties had an unemployment rate at or below 4%, with Asotin and San Juan counties leading the way with a 2.9% mark.

An estimated 6,490 people in Pacific County were employed in nonfarm jobs in September, flat from August and up 2.4% from a year ago. The figures exclude farm workers, private household employees, business owners and those employed by nonprofits. It’s the county’s best nonfarm employment for the month of September since at least 2000.

Jobs in logging, construction and mining posted some of the biggest year-over-year gains, with the workforce increasing by 6.7% from 450 to 480 in the county. Jobs in education and healthcare increased by 6.5%, from 620 to 660 workers.

Two of the biggest workforces in the county, those working in government and leisure and hospitality, saw smaller gains over the past year. Jobs in government — mostly consisting of those working for the county, cities and local taxing districts — increased from 1,830 to 1,890, a gain of 3.3%, while jobs in dining and lodging increased by just 0.9%, from 1,090 to 1,100.

Manufacturing jobs fell slightly from last September, from 670 to 650, a decrease of 3%, while jobs in information and financial services saw a small bump, from 300 to 310, an increase of 3.3%.