EVERETT – Snohomish County’s unemployment rate edged up in June, but it wasn’t because of a lack of jobs, according to the state Employment Security Department.
The county created about 2,000 jobs last month, with about 500 of them in the aerospace industry as the Boeing Co. geared up to produce its new 787 Dreamliner, according to labor economist Donna Thompson.
The jobless rate was 4.3 percent in June, up from 4.2 percent in May.
“The cause of the rise is the arrival of job seekers in the county,” Thomson said.
She estimated that the labor force rose by 1,800 people over the month and now totals 365,000 people. She noted that there were about 15,900 people seeking work last month. About 3,600 of those were collecting unemployment benefits, Thompson said.
Statewide, the unemployment rate fell last month, dropping 4.6 percent in May to 4.5 percent in June.
“Washington’s unemployment rate remains at historic lows and our healthy economy has been noticed by other states and internationally,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. “The opportunities I have found while on trade missions to other nations are bolstered by the fact that our strong market makes us an attractive trade partner.”
In Island County, the unemployment rate rose from 4.5 percent in May to 4.7 percent in June. In King County, the jobless rate also rose one-tenth of a percentage point, from 4.4 percent to 4.5 percent.
Locally the addition of 2,000 jobs equaled an annual growth rate of 4 percent, Thompson said, noting that’s more than double the 1.8 percent statewide growth.
Adding jobs in addition to aerospace were these job categories: Construction, 200; health services, 200; employment services, 200; food services and drinking places, 300; and local government, 200.
A key sector losing jobs was financial activities.
“This is primarily due to the meltdown in the sub-prime mortgage area, which continues to ripple throughout the housing market,” Thompson said.
She noted that the mortgage problems haven’t slammed the housing industry here as they have in many parts of the country. “Continuing job and population growth are helping to absorb the growing inventory of homes on the market,” she said.
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