Published July 2001

Jobless rate falls
to 4.3 percent in county

By Mike Benbow
Herald Economy Editor

Unemployment fell in Snohomish County and across the state in May as construction projects got into full swing and tourist-related business picked up, the state Employment Security Department recently announced.

Statewide, unemployment fell by four-tenths of one percentage point to 5.3 percent in May. In Snohomish County, the jobless rate fell by two-tenths of a percentage point, from 4.5 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May.

The state added 4,700 retail jobs, including 2,700 at restaurants, bars and other eating and drinking establishments, according to the report. Construction employment increased by 3,600 workers, an expected jump at the end of winter. Most of the jobs were in special trades contracting.

Government added 2,000 workers, mostly in local government, which increased by 1,500 jobs.

In Snohomish County, labor economist Donna Thompson said nonfarm jobs increased by 1,600, or 0.7 percent, in May, led by an increase of 400 positions in construction. Services also were up by 400, and retail trade increased by 200, as did the number of federal workers.

The numbers mean that from an estimated labor force of 349,700 in Snohomish County, 334,800 people were working and 14,900 were without jobs.

The highest jobless rate in the state was in Ferry and Klickitat counties, where unemployment was 14.6 percent. The lowest unemployment rate was in Whitman County, with 1.8 percent.

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