More people are working in Clark County than a year ago, according to data from the Washington Employment Security Department.
Unemployment nationally ticked up to 4.3 percent in July as hiring cooled across the country. In Washington, it reached 4.9 percent, up from 3.6 percent in July 2023. And in Clark County, it reached 5.3 percent, up from 4.1 percent last July.
Despite the unemployment rate, labor data shows about 1.18 percent more individuals were working locally in July compared with a year ago.
“Clark County’s job market has cooled somewhat compared to the rapid recovery of the last few years, with employment gains stabilizing and the unemployment rate ticking up to 5.3 percent in July,” said Emily Robertson, Southwest Washington regional labor economist for the Washington Employment Security Department.
Robertson said that puts the county in line with what’s been happening statewide.
So why is the unemployment rate up but also the number of jobs?
“The higher unemployment rate appears to be due to fast labor market growth,” economist Scott Bailey said.
If population grows or more parents decide they’re ready to re-enter the workforce when their kids start school, for instance, that can drive up the number of people looking for work, he explained. And if they’re not immediately successful, that can drive up unemployment even if job growth is steady.
Meanwhile, some sectors are seeing lower job numbers than others. Mining and construction lost 900 jobs compared with July 2023 and manufacturing lost about 100, with paper manufacturing specifically taking a sizable hit.
Numbers also dipped among state and federal government workers and administrative and support staff.
The labor data, however, showed a 300 job boost in education services in July compared with 2023 and a 1,200 job boost in health care and social assistance.
Transportation equipment manufacturing and plastics and rubber manufacturing both saw increases compared with last summer. Manufacturing jobs can be highly dependent upon projects that companies are working to complete for a particular customer.
Real estate, rental and leasing also added 300 jobs compared with last summer. Arts, entertainment and recreation added around 300 jobs, while accommodation and food services added around 400.
Small business struggle
Some sectors are still having trouble finding workers. A new jobs report from the National Federation of Independent Business found small business owners are struggling to fill job openings.
The report showed 56 percent of small business owners had few or no qualified applicants for positions they were trying to fill.
“Owners have grown understandably frustrated as attempts to fill their workforce repeatedly stall and cost pressures continue to rise,” Bill Dunkelberg, National Federation of Independent Business chief economist, said in a press release Thursday.
The federation reported job openings were highest in transportation, construction and manufacturing and lowest in agriculture and finance.
