Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
RITZVILLE – The Adams County jobless rate is the lowest reported in more than three decades.
According to September data released in November by regional labor economist Donald W. Meseck, the non-farm unemployment dipped to a 3.1%.
That's down from 4.1% in August, the data shows. It's also down from 3.6% in September 2019 and 5.4% in September 2020.
"This 3.1% rate is the lowest reading for the month of September in Adams County since 1990 (when ESD began compiling these data electronically) – good economic news," Meseck said. "But this positive news must be tempered by the fact that the Adams County labor force was smaller in September 2021 than in September 2019."
The data shows that the number of seeking a job has dropped by nearly 800 residents over two years.
In 2019, there were 10,818 residents in the labor force in September. For September 2021, only 10,051 residents were in the labor force.
Government benefits, moratoriums on evictions and utilities shutoffs, the ability to obtain more free food, and shutdowns and closures due to the coronavirus outbreak have prompted many to remain out of the workforce since March 2020.
Despite fewer workers, the county has seen at least 250 new jobs, a 1.3% increase, in the non-farm sector since September 2020, Meseck said, calling coronavirus economic recovery a "work in progress" in Adams County.
Roger Harnack is co-owner and publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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