Adams County unemployment rate drops in last year

RITZVILLE — While unemployment in Adams County went up between October and November of 2016, unemployment dropped between November 2015 and November of 2016.

The unemployment rate dropped from 7.9 percent in November 2015 to 7.2 percent in November 2016, according to information released by the Washington Employment Security Department. Unemployment rose from 5.1 percent in October 2016, which follows the three-year trend. Unemployment rose in the same way between October and November in 2015 and 2014.

“The number of unemployed residents decreased while the labor force expanded — a good economic sign,” wrote Don Meseck, regional labor economist for WESD.

But the total number of nonfarm jobs in November 2016 was 5,680, a slight drop from November 2015. Nonfarm employment in Adams County “has been on a general ‘downward slope’ for the balance of the past 17 months, July 2015 through November 2016. Not particularly good economic news,” he wrote.

The county’s labor force grew between Novembers 2015 and 2016, and the number of unemployed people declined. The change “was likely primarily due to job growth in Adams County’s agricultural sector, since the local nonfarm market provided fewer jobs in November 2016 than November 2015.”

Adams County gained 10 jobs in its construction sector, and 20 jobs in its retail trade sector, when the two Novembers are compared. The education and health services sector also gained 20 jobs in the same time period. The government sector in Adams County gained 30 jobs when November 2016 is compared with November 2015. “Many government positions in rural counties are with local school districts, police and fire departments, the U.S. Postal Service, public health care providers, etc.”

But the manufacturing sector lost 30 jobs between Novembers 2016 and 2015, and 2.8 percent downturn, Meseck said. The manufacturing sector has lost jobs every month between December 2015 and November 2016.

The leisure and hospitality sector, mostly hotels and restaurants, lost 80 jobs, a 19 percent downturn, between November 2015 and November 2016. It dropped by 10 jobs between October and November 2016. Employment in that sector had been stable for about three years, Meseck said.

Wholesale trade lost 10 jobs between November 2016 and November 2015. The education and health services sector added 20 jobs between the Novembers.