As spring arrived, so too did about 400 jobs in Clark County, according to the latest labor market updates.
The state Employment Security Department reported the seasonally adjusted numbers on Tuesday. In March, various sectors hired the workers whose jobs weren’t tied directly to the arrival of a sunnier season.
“It’s a little bit here, a little bit there,” said Scott Bailey, regional economist for the agency. “Spring looks to be springing up.”
Clark County added 900 jobs total, carried mostly by hiring in hospitality and construction, which hire more ahead of the bustling summer seasons. Education services and health care industries also added seasonal jobs.
Though tamer than recent months, March was the fifth consecutive month of positive job growth in Clark County. The county added 700 jobs in February and 1,000 jobs in January. October was the last month to see jobs scythed.
Clark County has added 5,300 jobs over the past 12 months, amounting to 3.3 percent job growth. The Vancouver-Portland metro area — which includes Clark and Skamania counties with five Oregon counties — added 23,300 for 2 percent growth. In the same period, jobs have grown 1.5 percent nationwide, 2.9 percent in Washington and 2.1 percent in Oregon.
That rate will likely drop soon, however, after the anniversary of Ilani Casino Resort. The casino hired more than 1,000 workers last spring and will soon no longer fall into the 12-month window.
Bailey added that construction hiring in the metropolitan area appears to be off to a slower start. He said it might be a sign that with costs rising and labor tight that businesses might start pulling back from expanding.
“It’s something to keep an eye on,” he said.
