October jobless rate holds steady in Spokane County

The October unemployment was 5.8 percent in Spokane County, matching September for the lowest rate of the year. It was slightly above the October 2015 jobless rate of 5.7 percent.

Statewide, unemployment fell to 5.4 percent in October, the Washington Employment Security Department reported. That’s a seasonally adjusted rate, while county rates are not adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.

Spokane County had 224,837 people employed and 13,771 unemployed last month, the state said. Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits were 1,855, or 335 more than in September.

Private sector job growth has driven down the jobless rate this year. Key industries posting increases are transportation and warehousing, advanced manufacturing, health care, finance and insurance, and agriculture.

The October jobless rate was 4.4 percent in Lincoln County, 4.8 percent in Whitman County, 5.1 percent in Adams County, 7.2 percent in Stevens County, 8 percent in Pend Oreille County and 9.4 percent in Ferry County.