Snohomish County’s jobless rate drops

Published 8:16 pm Tuesday, April 13, 2010

EVERETT — Unemployment in Snohomish County dropped significantly in March, even though the county lost 300 jobs and saw a rise in the number of newly laid off people seeking benefits during the month.

The jobless rate, revised to 10.4 percent in February, fell to 9.7 percent in March, according to the state Employment Security Department.

Annelise Vance-Sherman, the department’s labor economist for Snohomish County, said a drop in the jobless rate is common in March because of seasonal hiring patterns. She said there were few dramatic changes in the county’s job picture last month, which she added was good news.

“A slowing rate of decline in most sectors is encouraging,” she said.

Statewide, the unemployment rate bumped up a tenth of a percentage point, from a revised 9.4 percent in February to 9.5 percent in March. But the state added 1,600 jobs last month, considered a good sign. The national jobless rate is 9.7 percent.

“This recovery is going to take time, but the latest job gains are another positive indicator that we’re on the right track,” Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee said in a written statement.

In the county, the estimated number of jobs was 241,900 last month. Initial claims for unemployment in the county increased from 5,643 in February to 6,168 in March. Continued claims also rose slightly from 18,541 to 18,643. Final payments were issued to 1,612 people in March.

Vance-Sherman said most of the county’s job sectors saw little change in March. Aerospace added 100 jobs, but construction stayed flat, as did professional and business services. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 200 jobs, while educational and health services added 200. State government lost 400 jobs, local government added 100 and the federal government stayed flat.

The education and health sectors were one of the few areas that has seen consistent growth. The sectors added 1,200 jobs during the past year.

Aerospace lost 800 jobs during the past 12 months. More cutbacks are expected from Boeing Co. layoff notices that will take effect toward the end of this month.

Statewide saw similar small changes in the jobs sectors that ended in a positive note.

“The change is not very big in terms of the jobs and the unemployment rate, but we are starting to see something of a trend,” said Dave Wallace, an economist at Employment Security.

Wallace said the overall the state’s labor force grew by nearly 6,000 people in March. He said it’s likely that many of them are now job hunting again after previously being part of the group of so-called “discouraged workers” who have given up on job searches.

Because the unemployment rate is based on the number of people who are actively looking for work, the rate doesn’t include those who have stopped searching.

“This is a common phenomenon during an economic recovery,” Wallace said. “As people grow more optimistic about their job prospects, they start looking again.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.