Clark County again had the highest unemployment rate in Washington in December, the third time in 2009, as local job creation failed to keep up with layoffs.
Last month, the county’s preliminary jobless rate hit 14.3 percent, the highest for that month since 1980.
The local unemployment rate has been steadily climbing since the economic downturn began in late 2007 as employers in nearly every sector cut workers. A year ago, unemployment here stood at 10.5 percent.
Previously, the county had the highest jobless rate in Washington in August and October.
More pain could be on the way in the next couple of months because rates typically move higher in January and February. They are expected to improve by mid-year as the region slowly gains economic footing.
Washington’s unemployment rate in December was 9.5 percent, up from 9 percent in November. The U.S. jobless rate is 10 percent. Oregon’s jobless rate jumped to 11 percent.
Last month, local employment fell by 800 jobs, with government, construction, trade and transportation, and manufacturing all taking hits. Unadjusted employment in the county was down 6,000 jobs in the 12 months through December to 126,600.
Residential employment, which includes people who live here but may hold jobs elsewhere, slipped to 189,340, down 12,480 over the year.
Seeking new work
An estimated 31,480 county residents were off the job and seeking new employment in December. Of those, about half are collecting some sort of unemployment benefit, said Scott Bailey, labor analyst with the Washington Employment Security Department.
“We haven’t been able to get a good breakout of how many people are on regular benefits versus extended benefits from the state and emergency benefits supported by federal funding,” Bailey said. “We do know that initial claims by people filing for the first time are still very high, but quite a bit lower than a year ago. You could say things are getting worse, but at a slower rate.”
Clark, as well as other Southwest Washington counties, reported some of the highest jobless rates in the state. Cowlitz County to the north reported unemployment of 13.1 percent in December. Wahkiakum hit 14.2 percent, with Skamania at 12.8 percent.
Why is Clark County’s rate so high compared to other areas?
“One piece is that construction has been a big part of the economy here,” Bailey said. “Another is the connection with Oregon, which still has one of the highest jobless rates at 11 percent in the U.S.”
Bailey predicts higher unemployment rates here in January and February, typically the highest jobless months of the year because of seasonal employment trends.
Are there any signs of improvement?
Temporary employment, while still well below normal, has started to expand, Bailey said.
“Basically, we’re following national trends and started to see some improvement in temporary hiring back in July,” he said.
Clark County’s December employment peaked in 2006 and 2007 at the height of the housing boom, with jobless rates of 4.7 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, and in-county employment of 134,000 in December 2006.
