Jobless Rate Grows In Washington

Following seasonal patterns, unemployment rose statewide and in Spokane in January. Spokane’s jobless rate increased to 6.5 percent.

Fred Walsh, a regional labor economist with the Washington state Employment Security Department, noted that January and February tend to have the highest unemployment.

“If this is the worst or second-worst unemployment rate we have all year, we’re not going to be too bad off,” Walsh said.

Walsh says Spokane and the Inland Northwest will see an economic slowdown this year.

“It’s a clue as to where we’re going this year,” Walsh said of January’s higher unemployment level. He added that spring months should provide a better overall picture for the year.

Washington’s jobless rate rose half a percentage point in January, up from December’s 5 percent - a normal increase for the season and nothing to be alarmed about, state officials said Tuesday.

The rate was 0.1 percent higher than a year ago.

Columbia County had the highest jobless rate at 19.1 percent, and Whitman the lowest at 2.4 percent.

“The seasonal downturns in construction and resource-based industries coupled with post-Christmas layoffs typically boost unemployment to year highs in January and February,” Commissioner Carver Gayton said.

But, he added, the employment picture remains bright in Washington. “Continued strong labor markets are keeping state joblessness near historic lows for the month,” he said.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment dropped 0.2 percent over the month, to 4.7 percent. The comparable national average was 4.3 percent.

Total nonfarm wage and salary employment fell by 63,300, and manufacturing payrolls dropped by 5,300, led by seasonal cuts in food processing and forest products, the department said.

Further downsizing in aircraft and parts claimed 1,600 jobs in January to bring the cumulative job losses in the industry to 4,900, or 4 percent since the employment peak in June. However, the employment base still stands at more than 108,000 people.

Seasonal reductions also occurred in printing and publishing, textiles and apparel, and stone, clay, and glass.

This sidebar appeared with the story: JOBLESS RATES These are the January unemployment percentages for selected Washington counties. Spokane 6.5 Adams 16.8 Asotin 4.7 Benton 7.4 Clark 4.6 Columbia 19.1 Douglas 9.3 Ferry 14.2 Franklin 14 Garfield 6.3 Grant 14 King 3.2 Lincoln 7.7 Okanogan 13.4 Pend Oreille 13.7 Pierce 4.6 Snohomish 3.8 Stevens 10.6 Walla Walla 10.5 Whitman 2.4

State high Columbia (19.1) State low Whitman (2.4)