Despite a slight drop in unemployment statewide, Lewis County saw a jump in February of this year, according to the Employment Security Department’s (ESD) most recent monthly report.
The county’s unemployment rate rose from 6.8% to 7.2%, not seasonally adjusted. That’s compared to the state’s February rate of 6.4%.
Many of Lewis County’s neighbors are also faring worse than the state — Skamania County sits at 8%, Clark at 7.5%, Pacific at 9%, Pierce at 7.1% and Yakima at 8.7%. Thurston County is below the state average at 6.1%.
According to the ESD, 24,500 jobs were gained statewide in February, mostly in leisure and hospitality, with 12,700 jobs gained. Professional and business services gained 2,500 jobs, education and health services gained 2,400, transportation and warehousing gained 1,500 and retail gained 1,300.
