Lewis County’s unemployment rate declined in May, falling 0.2% to 5.3%, according to new data released by the Washington State Employment Security Department.
April’s 5.5% unemployment rate was also a decline from March’s 6.3% rate.
The decline in Lewis County’s unemployment rate was driven by a disproportionately large fall in the number of unemployed people between April and May. Lewis County’s labor force saw a decline of 206 people. The number of employed individuals in the county fell by 138, a decline of less than 0.5%. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals fell by 68, a decline of over 3%.
The statewide unemployment rate saw a 0.1% increase from 3.5% to 3.6%. The increase was driven by a decrease in the number of employed Washington residents by 5,845, accompanied by an increase of 4,451 unemployed individuals, according to the data.
Elsewhere, Thurston County’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1%, rising from 4.2% to 4.3%. In both Grays Harbor County and Pacific County, unemployment rates also rose by 0.1%, increasing from 6.5% to 6.6%. Wahkiakum County’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1%, falling from 6.4% to 6.3%. The unemployment rate in Cowlitz County also declined by 0.1%, decreasing from 5.3% to 5.2%.
