Washington Jobless Rate Dips Spokane Rate Unchanged From January To February
Washington’s jobless rate dropped four-tenths of a percentage point in February to 6.2 percent of the work force - well below the 7.7 percent level a year ago.
“February is historically a swing month with the rate going up or down depending on the weather,” Employment Security Commissioner Carver Gayton said Tuesday. “However in spite of heavy rains, economic growth in recent months and the addition of jobs over a broad spectrum of the economy contributed to this year’s lower rate.”
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the statewide unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent to 5.0 percent - the lowest since 1990 and three-tenths of a percentage point below the comparable national average of 5.3 percent.
Spokane’s unemployment rate saw no change in the transition from January to February. The preliminary February rate is 6.5 percent, as was the revised January rate. But the February figures show a sharp drop from Spokane’s 7.6 percent unemployment rate in February 1996.
Fred Walsh, Employment Security’s regional labor economist, said a static unemployment rate from January to February is typical of the Spokane economy.
“They are the two lowest employment months of the year, and they are never very far apart,” Walsh said.
The drop in unemployment from February 1996 is the result of the local economy producing more jobs, Walsh said.
This year, 188,500 people were employed in an eligible work force of 201,600, leaving 13,100 jobless. In February 1996, 185,800 were employed, and 15,200 didn’t have jobs.
Statewide, “nonfarm employment added 13,200 jobs with gains rather than declines in weather impacted sectors such as construction and eating and drinking places and steady employment in lumber and wood products,” said Dennis Fusco, chief economist for the department.
Manufacturing payrolls gained 1,800 workers, led by a 700-worker increase in aircraft and parts.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: County-by-county monthly unemployment rates