South Sound adds jobs in June

The South Sound appeared to benefit from the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June, according to unemployment data released Tuesday by the state Employment Security Department.

That’s because Pierce and Thurston counties showed significant job growth in leisure and hospitality, an industry category that includes hiring by local hotels, the data show.

Pierce County’s jobless rate fell to 6.4 percent last month from 6.5 percent in May as the county added 1,200 jobs in June, the data show.

Of those jobs, 800 were created in leisure and hospitality, said Jim Vleming, regional economist for Employment Security.

Pierce County has added 13,500 jobs, including 3,600 in construction, in the past year, he said.

Thurston County’s jobless rate fell to 5.9 percent last month from 6 percent in May. The county added 1,300 jobs last month, including 400 in leisure and hospitality, Vleming said.

The 400 jobs created by leisure and hospitality in June might mean that county hotels hired at the last minute because in May the same industry category shed 200 jobs, the data show.

Thurston County has added 4,800 jobs in the past year, including 1,300 in leisure and hospitality, Vleming said.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 5.3 percent.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 2:09 PM with the headline "South Sound adds jobs in June."