County jobless rate up in July

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The loss of jobs in industries such as agriculture, construction and health care contributed to Yakima County's 7.7 percent unemployment rate in July, according to preliminary statistics from the state Employment Security Department.

"I thought there were more bad indicators than good," said Don Meseck, regional economist for the Employment Security Department. "This month, the local job market took two steps backward and one step forward."

The county's nonagricultural labor force was 138,880 in July, a decrease of 810 from July 2009, when the unemployment rate was 7.1 percent. The total number of unemployed increased from 9,740 to 10,630 during the year. In June of this year, the unemployment rate was 8 percent.

The state fared worse than the county with an 8.6 unemployment rate. However, the state showed marginal growth from July 2009, when its unemployment rate was 8.8 percent.

The numbers are seasonally adjusted to account for irregular hiring trends like holiday employment. Yakima County does not report seasonally adjusted unemployment rates.

Kittitas County had an 8.6 percent rate in July, while Benton County was at 6.1 percent and Klickitat County's rate was 8.7 percent.

In Yakima County, the losses were most apparent in nonfarm jobs, which dropped 500 to 76,100.

Manufacturing and construction took large hits, losing 500 and 200 jobs respectfully, while health services and state government each lost 200 jobs. Industries that showed marginal growth included private-service providing with 400 jobs, retail trade with 500 jobs and food services with 100 jobs.

But the gains were not enough to offset the other losses, Meseck said. Agriculture also lost jobs because of the cold, wet spring. There wasn't as much need to hire workers with the smaller and later harvests, he said.

Although agriculture employment figures are not yet available specifically for Yakima County, Klickitat and Yakima County combined lost 2,160 jobs, or 5.2 percent, in the past year, according to a Agriculture, Labor Employment and Wages report.

"Agriculture is a very volatile but resilient industry," Meseck said. "The losses in the non-farm side are probably more concerning to me. ... We don't see those sectors turning around rapidly."

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.