In December, unemployment throughout Washington state, including in Lewis County, dropped slightly to 4.5%, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD).
The agency reported Lewis County had a 6.2% unemployment rate last month, up from the 5.9% the county reported in November.
Across the state, the ESD reported the economy increased by 11,800 jobs in December, though the statewide rate fell to 4.5%.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate nationwide sat at 4.1% in December, with 7.1 million people unemployed and 2.1 million filing for unemployment.
According to the state ESD, the largest job gains statewide in the past year have occurred in education and health services and government.
Between October 2023 and October 2024, Washington lost 200 jobs in the government, and added 12,000 in the private sector.
Across Southwest Washington, Thurston County reported a 4.6% unemployment rate, Skamania County saw a rate of 5.5%, Pierce County reported a 5.4% rate, Cowlitz County saw a 5.5% rate, Grays Harbor County was at 7.1%, Pacific County was at 6.7% and Wahkiakum County was at 6.4%.
