Lewis County’s unemployment rate rose in October, increasing 0.2% from September’s 4.7% to 4.9%, according to new data released by the Washington State Employment Security Department.
The October unemployment rate is Lewis County’s third lowest of the year, behind September’s 4.7% and July’s 4.6%.
The rise in the rate was driven by an increase in the number of unemployed workers in Lewis County. While the number of employed individuals increased in the county in October, the number of unemployed people increased at a higher rate.
The number of unemployed individuals increased by 105, from 1,630 in September to 1,735 in October, an increase of 6.44%.
At the same time, the number of employed individuals increased by 569 people, from 33,007 to 33,576, an increase of 1.7%.
Overall, Lewis County’s workforce increased by 674 people in October, rising by 1.9%.
Elsewhere, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties also saw their unemployment rates rise by 0.2% from September to October, rising from 5.8% to 6.0% and 6.7% to 6.9%, respectively.
Thurston and Cowlitz counties both saw their unemployment rates rise by 0.1%, from 3.8% to 3.9% and 4.7% to 4.8%, respectively. In Wahkiakum County, the unemployment rate rose from 5.8% to 6.1%, an increase of 0.3%.
Statewide, the unemployment rate rose 0.1% from 3.6% to 3.7%.
