Economy: S.J. jobless rate is fourth-lowest in state

Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.6 percent in November, Employment Security Commissioner Sylvia P. Mundy announced.

The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by three-tenths of a percentage point to 6.0 percent. Washington’s non-adjusted unemployment rate rose three-tenths of a percentage point to 6.7 percent.

In November, 300 people out of a workforce of 6,480 filed unemployment claims, for a 4.6 percent jobless rate. Two big hits for the San Juans were the closure of Rosario Resort for improvements, and off-season cutbacks at Roche Harbor Resort.

In October, there were 6,820 people in the labor force, of which 260 were unemployed — a jobless rate of 3.8 percent.

In November 2001, San Juan County had a labor force of 6,580 people, of which 310 were unemployed, a jobless rate of 4.7 percent.

“The November numbers hint at very modest improvement in the Washington labor market in the last quarter of 2002,” Mundy said.

“Washington’s jobless rate remains significantly above the national rate, however, and key sectors have not recovered.”

Washington’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased by 2,900 over the month, a non-adjusted increase of 0.1 percent following gains in employment in both September and October.

Seasonally adjusted employment estimates prepared in collaboration with the Office of the Forecast Council, however, show a decline of 2,100 during November. This seasonally adjusted decline indicates that Washington’s employment increased less than normal.

Non-adjusted numbers show a job decline in manufacturing of 5,000, of which half was due to seasonal layoffs in the food sector. Construction declined by 5,300 jobs as the rainy season began. Retail sales employment climbed by 6,200 jobs, which is not quite as high as is normal for the start of the Christmas shopping season.

The unusually late date for the Thanksgiving holiday may, in part, explain the low numbers. Services were down 2,100, with less than normal declines in hotels and recreational. The government sector is up less than normal, with unusually small gains in some areas of local government.

Nonagricultural employment in Washington is significantly lower than last year, with a non-adjusted decline of 33,200. The over-the-year losses have narrowed steadily since August, and this is the smallest year-over-year decrease so far in 2002.

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