Lewis County unemployment ticks up in July; statewide rate remains unchanged

The unemployment rate in Lewis County ticked up to 5.8% in June, according to data released by the Washington Employment Security Department on Tuesday.

The figure is about a half a point higher than the 5.2% rate Lewis County saw in June. It comes after the county reported a 5.6% rate in both April and May.

Though the Washington economy decreased by 100 jobs in July, the rate statewide remained unchanged at 4.9%. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate nationwide sat at 4.3% in July, with 7.2 million people unemployed and 2.1 million filing for unemployment

According to the Employment Security Department, the largest job gains statewide in the past year occurred in health services and social assistance, education and health services and government.

Between July 2023 and July 2024, employment in Washington increased by 51,100 jobs, which includes 39,500 jobs in the private sector and 11,600 jobs in the public sector.

Across Southwest Washington, Thurston County reported a 4.7% unemployment rate, Skamania County saw a rate of 5%, Pierce County reported a 5.4% rate, Cowlitz County saw a 5.4% rate, Grays Harbor County is at 6.4%, Pacific County is at 6% and Wahkiakum County is at 7.2%.