Peninsula jobless rate climbs — just a little

North Olympic Peninsula unemployment rates edged upward in October, but are still much lower than a year ago.

Clallam County’s jobless rate in October rose to 4.7 percent from September’s revised 4.5 percent. Clallam posted a 6.5 percent unemployment rate in October 2003, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The Jefferson County rate was 3.8 percent, up from an adjusted 3.6 percent in September but substantially lower than 5.6 percent in October 2003.

The state’s estimated unemployment rate held steady at 5.6 percent last month, just behind the 5.5 percent national rate.