The Pierce County economy took a step back in December as its unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent after several months in which the jobless rate had fallen, according to state Employment Security Department data released Tuesday.
The county’s jobless rate, which is not seasonally adjusted, rose to 9.1 percent last month from a revised 8.5 percent rate in November. Pierce County’s unemployment rate also was lower in October at 8.9 percent and in September at 9 percent, the data show.
“It eliminates any progress that we’ve had all year,” said regional economist Paul Turek about the December data, calling it a “disappointing” month.
The county shed 1,600 jobs in the November-to-December period, mostly in state government and education services, but it also lost 700 jobs in construction, he said. Turek said the decline in construction jobs likely can be tied to a Pierce County housing market that continues to struggle with distressed properties, such as foreclosures and short sales.
“It was a weak month,” Turek said, adding that Pierce County is kind of “running in place relative to last year.” The county also shed jobs in December 2010, but not as many, down 400, compared with 1,600 last month, he said.
Thurston County’s jobless rate, too, rose last month to 7.9 percent from 7.2 percent in November, but the county also added 1,300 jobs in the November-to-December period, regional economist Jim Vleming said.
Vleming was unimpressed, though, saying most of those job gains were tied to the recently completed special Legislative session.
The county will continue to benefit from the regular Legislative session, but he also expects to see an uptick in Thurston’s jobless rate because of seasonal jobs cuts.
Vleming doesn’t expect the rate to fall until March when spring hiring gets under way.
“It’s going to be tough sledding the next couple of months,” he said. “No pun intended.”
rboone@theolympian.com 360-754-5403
By the numbers
Regional jobless rates for December, not seasonally adjusted:
• King County: 7.2 percent.
• Thurston County: 7.9 percent.
• Pierce County: 9.1 percent.
• Mason County: 10.6 percent.
• Lewis County: 13.3 percent.
• Grays Harbor County: 13.5 percent.
Source: Employment Security Department
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