October jobs maps

The local jobless rate ticked up close to 6% in October, according to preliminary figures released by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

The monthly data from the state agency estimated that Pacific County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in September to 5.9% in October, which is lower than the 6.2% rate from October 2023. It’s the lowest mark for the county in any October dating back to at least 1990, which is as far back as ESD’s county-level data goes.

Overall, the county unemployment rate ranked 36th out of Washington’s 39 counties in October and was better than neighboring Grays Harbor (6.3%) and Wahkiakum (6.5%) counties. As usual, Ferry County in the northeast corner of the state had the highest unemployment rate for the month, at 7%.

The statewide unemployment rate sat at 4.4% for October, up from 4.2% in September and from 4.2% a year ago. Nineteen counties had an unemployment rate at or below 4.5%, with Asotin County in the southeast corner of the state leading the way with a 3.3% mark.

An estimated 6,220 people in Pacific County were employed in nonfarm jobs in October, down 0.3% from September and up 1% 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 October since 2007.

Public sector jobs saw a decline of 1.6% from both the previous month and year in October, with the government workforce decreasing from 1,860 to 1,830. The biggest private industry, leisure and hospitality, was at 990 workers, an increase of 3.1% from September’s 960 and 1% drop from October 2023’s 1,000 jobs.

Jobs in education and health services saw the most notable movement compared to the year prior. An estimated 680 workers were employed in the industry in October, up 9.7% from a year ago. Mining, logging and construction jobs were flat over September and up 4.7% from October 2023.