Jobless rate increases in Grays Harbor County

Washington’s economy gained 6,800 jobs in January while the statewide unemployment rate rose from 3.9% to 4.5%, and unemployment in Grays Harbor County rose from from 7% to 7.6%.

In Pacific County, the unemployment rate ticked down from 6.8% to 6.7%. Grays Harbor and Pacific were among 21 counties in which the rate exceeded 6%, up from 13 counties in December.

Ferry County, in the northeastern part of the sate, had Washington’s highest rate at 12.4%, while King County had the lowest jobless rate at 2.7%.

Grays Harbor’s 7.6% is down from 8.3% in January 2019.

Here’s how neighboring counties did in December 2019:

• Thurston, 4.8%

• Mason, 6.5%

• Jefferson, 5.8%

• Clallam, 7.4%