County jobless figures reflect 'summer bump'

Estimates released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Aug. 20 show the U.S. and statewide unemployment rates remained the same from last month.

The 5.3 percent unemployment rate for both the nation and state is still down from this same time last year, when the nation held a 6.2 percent unemployment rate and the state stood at 6.1 percent.

Though the number did not change from June to July, there was still a gain in jobs for the state, according to the Monthly Employment Report compiled by the BLS.

"Preliminary estimates from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate nonfarm employment in Washington rose by 5,900 from June 2015 to July 2015. BLS estimates the private sector gained 7,000 jobs during the month and the public sector lost 1,100 jobs."

The rate remaining steady despite the increase in jobs was attributed to a rise in unemployment.

"The number of unemployed people rose by 1,600 in July 2015 compared to June 2015," the report said. "At the same time, the number of employed people fell by an estimated 9,700. Overall, this amounted to a decrease of 8,100 people in the labor force."

In May, unemployment figures in Whitman County showed the county had one of the lowest rates in the state at 4.4 percent. The June figure, however, rose to 5.8 percent, a reflection of what labor economist Doug Tweedy called a seasonal trend for Whitman County.

"June, July and August are always higher unemployment times for Whitman County because of Washington State University," he told the Gazette last month.

In July, the figure rose again, hitting 6.3 percent. Tweedy said July is typically the highest unemployment month of those seasonal trend months, but he still remains optimistic, despite another jump.

"I'm just very encouraged, even though the unemployment rate went up," he said. "It's still down from last year."

The rate stood at 6.8 percent last July, and Tweedy said in that time, private businesses in Whitman County have created about 250 jobs and have seen a 1.4 percent increase in employment rates.

"That's helped bridge the gap of some of the seasonal gaps in education," Tweedy said. "So it's getting better."

State unemployment data for August will be released on Sept. 16, followed by county numbers on Sept. 22.