Grant County unemployment drops in January

MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County dropped four-tenths of 1 percent between January 2016 and January 2017. Unemployment did jump almost a full percentage point between December 2016 and January 2017, following a similar trend in 2015-16.

Unemployment was 10.5 percent in January 2017, compared to 10.9 percent in January 2016. “The civilian labor force contracted marginally while the number of Grant County residents unemployed decreased at a more rapid rate – good news for the local economy,” wrote Don Meseck, regional labor economist for Washington Employment Security Department.

Average annual unemployment increased by one-tenth of 1 percent between 2015 and 2016, going from 7.3 to 7.4 percent, Meseck said. “Employment estimates indicate that between 2015 and 2016 Grant County’s economy provided 230 new nonfarm jobs, (an) average annual increase of 0.8 percent.” That was slower than statewide job growth, he wrote.

“Although nonfarm employment (in Grant County) has expanded in each of the past 10 months, April 2016 through January 2017, local job growth rates consistently have lagged behind statewide rates.”

The county's civilian labor force expanded by 3.3 percent in 2016, but the number of unemployed grew by less than that, about 2.2 percent. The civilian labor force lost 89 people, but the number of unemployed dropped by 145 people.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing dropped by 8 percent between January 2016 and January 2017, losing 170 jobs. The durable goods manufacturing sector has been posting year-over-year job losses in Grant County for the last 15 months. But that’s in line with a statewide trend, where durable goods manufacturing jobs have been declining for 14 months, Meseck said.

The non-durable goods sector added jobs year-over-year, growing by 70 jobs between January 2016 and January 2017.

Wholesale trade, which includes server farms, added the most jobs in Grant County when the Januaries are compared. Wholesale trade added 160 jobs (10.1 percent) between January 2016 and January 2017.

The construction sector lost jobs between December 2016 and January 2017, dropping about 90 jobs. But it gained jobs between the Januaries, adding 110 jobs. “The local construction industry as experienced year-over-year employment increases for the past seven months, July 2016 through January 2017,” Meseck wrote.

Wholesale trade and retail trade both gained jobs when the Januaries are compared. But wholesale trade was flat and retail trade lost jobs between December 2016 and January 2017. The leisure and hospitality sector followed the same trend. The private education and health sector lost jobs between January 2016 and January 2017. “Prior to this, it had netted job gains for six months, from July through December 2016,” Meseck wrote.

In 2015, the last year for which records are available, agricultural jobs accounted for about 27 percent of total “covered” employment in the county. “Covered” employment includes jobs covered by the Washington Employment Security Act.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.