The unemployment rate in Grays Harbor County took a slight dip in November, but is still third highest in the state; only Wahkiakum and Ferry counties posted worse numbers for the month.
The state Department of Employment Security released its figures Tuesday, listing Grays Harbor County at 8.4 percent, down a smidgen from October’s 8.5 percent. Wahkiakum County posted an unemployment rate of 9 percent, while Ferry County’s rate was a whopping 10.3 percent in November. All three counties are well above the statewide average of 5.3 percent for the month, as is Pacific County at 8.3 percent.
Regional labor economist Jim Vleming recently released his county employment forecast for the end of this year and into early 2017, saying “the outlook remains guarded. Nonfarm job growth has been modest, and the manufacturing sector in the county continues to struggle to find positive footing, as employment numbers in that sector continue to lag the pre-2008 levels.”
There are potential bright spots for the county, said Vleming, in particular the continued growth of the Port of Grays Harbor.
The Satsop Business Park, another Port property, will house a cannabis growing operation starting next year. “Construction is going well, and we’re anticipating completion sometime a bit into the second quarter next year,” said Jerry Derevyanny, general counsel for Northwest Cannabis Solutions. “The cannabis company will employ 60-70 jobs once the facility comes up to full capacity within two to three months. I anticipate that initially a lot of people will start in entry level positions – plant care, trimming, etc. – and good performers will be rapidly promoted to fill the organizational structure. We aren’t taking any applications yet officially, although we have been really impressed by the level of interest already. I anticipate that toward the middle of February next year we will have our plan for how we want to hire, train, etc.”
The Port commission is expected to approve a lease with Overstock.com, LLC, Wednesday afternoon for a call center that could bring up to 200 jobs with it, and “While the Port of Grays Harbor continues to expand, a proposal for oil storage at port facilities continues to face opposition from residents and some government entities, which makes the future of that plan unclear,” wrote Vleming. “Meanwhile, a bio-diesel operation in the county has recently received added financing to improve and expand operations.”
The purchase of the Mary’s River sawmill in Montesano by a Montana firm will reportedly bring about 20 jobs to the county starting in early 2017.
According to the state, 3,600 jobs were added statewide in November. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, the number of unemployed people fell by 4,600 in November compared to October. At the same time, the number of employed people rose by an estimated 19,500. Overall, this amounted to an increase of 14,900 people in the labor force. Construction and education and health jobs made up the majority of the new jobs, while government, retail trade and leisure and hospitality jobs posted the largest losses for the month.
