County's unemployment rate state's 3rd highest

Unemployment in Wahkiakum County dropped from 13.2 percent in June to 11.9 percent in July, according to the latest figures from the Employment Security Department.

The figures said 170 of 1,460 in the labor force, 11.9 percent, were out of work in July. In July, 2010, 200 of 1,550 in the labor force, 13 percent, were out of work.

Statewide, unemployment dropped from 9.3 percent in June to 9 percent in July. Figures showed that the number of unemployed people decreased by 1,000 while the number of employed people dropped by 16,500, yielding a decrease of 17,500 in the labor force. In July, 2010, the state's unemployment rate was 9.1 percent.

Wahkiakum's 11.9 percent rate was the third highest in the state. Ferry County was highest at 12.9 percent; Lewis and Grays Harbor tied for second at 12.6 percent. Pend Oreille had 11.6 percent, and Cowlitz was fifth at 11.3 percent.

Cowlitz County dropped from 12.2 percent in June to 11.3 percent in July. In July, 2010, the rate was 12.3 percent.

Pacific County's rate dropped from 11.8 percent in June to 10.7 percent in July. In July, 2010, the rate was 11.5 percent.

Garfield County had the state's lowest rate at 6.4 percent. In metropolitan areas, Wenatchee was lowest at 6.1 percent, and Everett was highest at 10 percent.