Spokane7
61°
December 20, 2011 in City
Spokane county adds 1,100 jobs in November
About 1,100 jobs were created in Spokane County during November — a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for those seeking work.
Doug Tweedy, the regional labor economist who tracks employment data for Spokane, said the county’s jobless rate remained stuck, however, at 8.1 percent. That’s the same as October.
Across Washington state the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent.
Tweedy said jobs continue to be created in manufacturing – especially in metal production and fabrication, and in the production of plastics and rubber. The state does not disclose the identities of companies in its monthly labor reports.
“The continued strength of manufacturing is really important,” Tweedy said. “These are stable jobs that are not driven by seasonal demand.”
He said construction has historically been the barometer of an economic rebound. This time, he said, it may be manufacturing.
While private-sector hiring is improving, the economy continues to struggle with layoffs and attrition within all levels of government.
About 600 government jobs – excluding the military – have been lost in Spokane County. Government, including education, is responsible for 18 percent of the jobs locally.
Tweedy said another major employment sector, health care, also has shed jobs as hospitals attempt to trim payroll.
For the year so far, the unemployment rate in Spokane averaged 9.1 percent compared with 9.6 percent for 2010.
“It’s been flat,” Tweedy said.
There have been some subsectors where hiring has been hot, he said, but not enough to make an economist believe that 2012 will be significantly better.
Parishes giving $1.5 million toward settling sex cases 
selkirks on December 20 at 5:29 p.m.
Good sign of improvement. Here’s to hoping this momentum will continue!
Shadedmuse on December 20 at 5:52 p.m.
Spokane has no jobs these r probally all min wage slave Jo jobs. I had to go to Denver to find work because it aint working Spokant
de3 on December 20 at 6:32 p.m.
That State’s workforceexplorer.com says there 1,900 fewer jobs than in November last year. Whoppee.
And workforceexplorer.com says there are 100 fewer non-farm jobs than in October. What gives?
schleufer on December 20 at 8:26 p.m.
they never talk about lean mfg.
hunternomore on December 20 at 9:34 p.m.
As an active job seeker, I can accurately state there has never been that many jobs in Spokane, county or otherwise, in a year let alone in one month! Second, just this week it was reported the state unemployment rate is 8.7 and today you are saying it’s 8.3? Nice stats.
Shadedmuse on December 20 at 10:20 p.m.
Hunernomore
If you want a job you will have to LOOK OUTSIDE Spokane because Spokane is a NON growth market.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on December 20 at 11:32 p.m.
hunternomore, sounds like you’re not working hard enough then, looks like 1,100 people were looking for a job harder than you were.
Shadedmuse on December 21 at 9:05 a.m.
Liberal Spokane is a dead job market, if your looking for a job in Spokane it aint going to happen, you need to look OUTSIDE spokane. Because Spokane is a depressed market of no Growth.
AmericaErwache on December 22 at 4:27 a.m.
I want to know how many of these are seasonal jobs. Seasonal employment should not be counted in overall job growth. They are not sustainable jobs unless you are hired on after the season is over. Also, thanks to corrupt Liberal Democrat politicians and some RINO(Republican In Name Only) Republicans, there is basically no manufacturing in the U.S. anymore. Most of our manufacturing jobs have been sent to Communist China. The following people have lobbied or are currently a lobbyist for Commie China: Madeline Albright, Bob Dole, Sandy “socks” Berger(former National Security Advisor under the Clinton administration who was caught red handed stealing classified documents that were hidden in his socks), Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Jeffrey Immelt(CEO of General Electric) and so much more. In my opinion, it should be treason to lobby on behalf of a foreign country, especially a Communist country. Where are the lobbyists for the U.S.?