Douglas, Chelan unemployment rises

ELLENSBURG — Unemployment in Douglas and Chelan counties rose in November 2022 to 5.1% from 4.4% the previous year despite a decline in the two counties’ combined workforce, according to data published this week by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

In the latest data covering both counties, ESD reported that the area’s civilian workforce fell by 122 people to 65,375 in November 2022 compared with the same month in 2021, while total unemployment rose to 3,306 from 2,886 in the previous year. The report said the decline in the civilian workforce in both counties has fallen every month since May, and is now lower than the 66,231 reported in November 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The bottom line: a shrinking labor force is seldom considered good economic news,” report author and ESD Regional Labor Economist Don Meseck wrote.