County jobless rate again better than state

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The number of Yakima County residents without jobs continues to increase, but the county unemployment rate was well below the state rate for the second consecutive month.

About 9,470 residents were without jobs last month, compared with 8,100 in July 2008, according to preliminary figures from the state Employment Security department. That produced unemployment rates of 7.2 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.

The state rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 8.8 percent. The state also reported a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.1 percent. That rate accounts for seasonal events such as holiday hiring. Yakima County does not report a seasonally adjusted rate.

This is the first time Yakima County has had a lower unemployment rate than the state for the month of July since 1990, when Employment Security begin keeping comparable records.

There are also less jobs out there for the county's jobless. The number of nonagricultural jobs last month decreased by 3,200 from the same month a year ago.

Manufacturing accounted for nearly half of the job losses. The sector saw a year-to-year drop of 1,400 jobs. Other sectors losing jobs include government with 600 jobs, food services with 500 jobs and retail trade with 400 jobs.

Only two sectors showed a net increase in jobs. Education and health services gained 200 jobs, while wholesale trade gained 100. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stayed flat year-over-year.

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 509-577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.