The economic recovery in Lewis County is gaining traction. According to figures from Washington’s Employment Security Department, the unemployment rate was 9.2% in August. | Stock Photo
The economic recovery in Lewis County is gaining traction. According to figures from Washington’s Employment Security Department, the unemployment rate was 9.2% in August. | Stock Photo
The economic recovery in Lewis County is gaining traction. According to figures from Washington’s Employment Security Department, the unemployment rate was 9.2% in August.
The number is a substantial decline from the 16.6% peak in April, which was when the county, state and nation realized the impact the pandemic was going to have on all aspects of life.
These figures mean that, out of a total labor force of 35,896 people, 3,259 were unemployed in Lewis County, as of August.
Most of the surrounding counties, including Yakima, Skamania and Pacific, still have unemployment rates above 10%. Statewide, the rate is 8.4%.
Lewis County’s reduction in unemployment is a result of modest hiring across industries, but the economic future of the county remain unpredictable.
“Things seem to change by the day on which direction we’re going and when things are going to reopen and when they’re not going to reopen,” Jim Vleming, an economist for the Employment Security Department, said to The Daily Chronicle.
In August 2019, the unemployment rate in Lewis County was 5.9%.
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