PORT ANGELES — Private-sector job growth continued in Clallam and Jefferson counties last month as their jobless rates fell by about a half-percent, the state Employment Security Department announced Tuesday.
Clallam County unemployment dropped from a revised 8.9 percent in July to a preliminary 8.4 percent in August.
Jefferson County unemployment fell from a revised 8.4 percent to a preliminary 7.8 percent from month to month.
The drops in unemployment resulted from both counties adding workers to their labor forces, said Jim Vleming, regional economist for Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Kitsap, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce and Thurston counties.
“That’s definitely part of the equation,” he said.
Clallam County’s resident labor force grew from 27,600 to 28,100 last month, while the pool of workers in Jefferson County increased from 11,720 to 11,900, the agency reported.
Private-sector gains in both counties were offset by losses in the public sector.
Clallam County added 100 private-sector jobs but shed 110 in government.
Jefferson County lost 60 in the public sector but gained 50 in the private sector for a net loss of 10 non-farm jobs.
Vleming attributed the public-sector losses to seasonal variations in education jobs.
Gains, losses
Broken down, Clallam County added 60 goods-producing jobs, which covers natural resources, mining and manufacturing.
Jefferson County added 20 goods-producing jobs but lost 30 in the service sectors.
The North Olympic Peninsula counties gained 190 private-sector jobs in July.
Peninsula unemployment rates were more than a full percentage point higher in August 2012 — at 9.5 in Clallam and 9.1 percent in Jefferson County.
The statewide unemployment rate went from 6.9 percent to 7.0 percent in August, and the national unemployment rate went from 7.4 percent to 7.3 percent, Employment Security said.