PORT ANGELES — Unemployment inched up to 9.6 percent in Clallam County and fell slightly to 8.7 percent in Jefferson County last month despite the gain of 270 nonfarm jobs on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Clallam County unemployment went from a revised 9.2 percent in May to a preliminary 9.6 percent in June, the state Employment Security Department reported this week.
The county added 230 private sector jobs, more than half of which were classified as service-providing, while shedding 90 government jobs in June.
Jefferson County joblessness went from a revised 8.8 percent in May to a preliminary 8.7 percent in June.
The county added 100 jobs in the private sector and gained 30 jobs in government.
County unemployment rates do not account for those who commute to other counties for work or those who have stopped looking for a job and exited the workforce.
Unemployment claims
First-time unemployment claims in Clallam County went from 360 in May to 477 in June.
Initial jobless claims in Jefferson County rose slightly from 108 to 118 from May to June, Employment Security said.
The jobless rates was similar in both Peninsula counties 13 months ago.
In June 2012, unemployment was 9.6 percent in Clallam County and 9.1 percent in Jefferson County.
King County had the state’s lowest jobless rate last month, at 5.2 percent.
Grays Harbor County had the highest unemployment at 12.1 percent in June.
Meanwhile, the state and national unemployment rates held steady at 6.8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, in June.