Unemployment rate creeps up in Grant, Adams in May

MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County in May was higher than in some neighboring counties but lower than in others. Adams County's unemployment was lower than most of its neighbors, according to data released by the Washington Employment Security Department last week.

The unemployment data is not seasonally adjusted and is for non-agriculture workers. 

Grant County’s unemployment rate was 5.1%, higher than Okanogan, Chelan or Douglas counties. Adams County unemployment was 4.2%, lower than most of its neighbors including Spokane County,

The unemployment rate in Grant County was 1.1 percentage points higher than May 2023, and unemployment has been higher every month in 2024, measured year over year. That follows the state trend.

Since February Adams County’s unemployment rate has been higher in 2024 than in 2023. For May 2024, it’s a percentage point higher than May 2023. 

Grant County's unemployment rate was in line with Kittitas County, also at 5.1%, and Lincoln County, where it was 5%. Counties immediately north and south of Grant County fared a little better, with most being lower. Chelan County matched Adams County with a 4.2% unemployment rate for May. 

The unemployment rate in Yakima County was the highest in central Washington at 6%; Ferry County was the highest in the state, at 7.7%. Asotin County in the southeast corner of the state was the lowest at 3.3%. Unemployment rates in King and Spokane counties were identical at 4.3%. 

The state’s overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.9%, even though the state added 16,000 jobs, seasonally adjusted, in May, according to a report by Anneliese Vance-Sherman, the state’s chief labor economist.

The state’s unemployment rate is running higher than the national rate, which was 4%. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has been trending downward, both in Washington and nationally, since May 2020. However, Washington’s statewide unemployment rate went up between May 2023 and May 2024, increasing from 4.1% to 4.9%.

The state has added jobs in the last three months; for March the revised estimate was an increase of 8,400 jobs and 6,800 jobs in April.

On a statewide basis, various service sectors added most of the new jobs between May 2023 and May 2024.

The professional and business services sectors added the most jobs (5,100), with the leisure and hospitality (4,400 jobs) and education and health services (3,400 jobs) sectors following. The retail trade, government, financial activities, manufacturing, construction and transportation sectors all add jobs.

In the information sector, careers like software publishing also added jobs. Mining and logging lost jobs, and the wholesale trade sector lost 1,200 jobs statewide.

Statewide employment increased in nine major economic sectors between May 2023 and May 2024, according to the report. The education and health services sector grew the most, followed by government and professional and business services. The leisure and hospitality sector, manufacturing, transportation, other services and wholesale trade sectors also added jobs. The construction and retail trade sectors lost jobs.

Statewide public sector employment increased by about 3% year over year, with the largest number of jobs added in local government. Statewide private sector employment went up about 1% year over year, with the largest number of jobs added in education and health services and professional and business services.

Ambulatory health care accounted for the largest number of job gains in the education and health services sector. The biggest gains in the leisure and hospitality sector were in food services and accommodations. 

When measured year over year the information industry shed jobs, most of them in software publishing. 

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.