Peninsula Daily News and The Associated Press
Unemployment rates in Clallam and Jefferson counties dropped in July — as did the overall rate in Washington state — according to the state Employment Security Department.
Clallam posted a 9.0 percent unemployment rate, a drop of 0.8 percent from June.
Jefferson’s jobless rate in July was 7.4 percent, down 1.1 percent from June.
Washington’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.1 percent in July and the state gained 4,000 jobs over the month, an increase that hasn’t happened in several months, state officials said.
“The July numbers are further evidence that the recession is slowing, but it’s too soon to say whether we’ve turned the corner,” Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee said in a written statement.
“We expect to see ups and downs for some time to come.”
July’s statewide rate was down from June’s revised rate of 9.2 percent, according to the state Employment Security Department. Initially, June’s jobless rate was reported at 9.3 percent, but it was later revised lower. The national rate was 9.4 percent for July.
Full report: http://tinyurl.com/q2d5g5
