The local unemployment rate inched closer to 8% in February, according to initial data recently released by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

The figures from the state agency for the year’s second month pegged the jobless rate at 7.6% in February, up from 6.9% in January but a bit below the 7.9% that was seen a year ago. It’s the fourth-lowest unemployment rate for the county in the month of February dating back to at least 1990, trailing just 2023, 2022 and 2020.

Overall, the county unemployment rate ranked 30th out of Washington’s 39 counties for the month, better than neighboring Wahkiakum County’s 8.1% and just trailing Grays Harbor County’s 7.3% and Lewis County’s 7.2%. As usual, Ferry County in the northeast corner of the state had the highest unemployment rate for the month, at 10.2%.

The statewide unemployment rate sat at 5% for February, up from January’s 4.7% mark but down a tad from 5.1% a year prior. Six counties had an unemployment rate at or below 5% with King, the state’s most populous county, leading the way with a 4.1% mark. Fourteen counties had a rate at or above 7%, with most of those counties being located in Eastern Washington as well as Pacific and its three neighboring counties.

An estimated 6,260 people in Pacific County were employed in nonfarm jobs in February, down 0.6% from January and up 2.5% from the year prior. The figures exclude farm workers, private household employees, business owners and those employed by nonprofits. It’s the county’s best nonfarm employment mark for the month of February since at least 2000.

The year-over-year gains were led by the county’s sizable government workforce, which was up to 1,920 workers compared to 1,830 in February 2024 — a jump of 4.9%. All of that growth came among those working for local governments, such as cities, counties, school districts or other taxing districts; employment in that area grew from 1,650 last year to 1,750 this February, a gain of 6.1%.

Retail workers saw their ranks swell as well, increasing from 680 last February to 710 a year later, a jump of 4.4%. Employment was flat in another key local sector, leisure and hospitality, which saw its workforce stay steady at 900.

Jobs in mining, logging and construction were up 4.8% compared to a year ago, increasing from 420 to 440 workers — with all of that growth coming in mining and logging. Manufacturing jobs were down 3.6%, dropping from 280 to 270 workers.