March Unemployment report for counties released, yet to show the effect of shutdowns

Grays Harbor, WA – The March unemployment report for Washington counties was released and it has yet to show the effect of shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grays Harbor’s unemployment rate continued to drop and was tied with Yakima as the eighth highest in the state.

The rate fell to 6.8%, down from 7.1% in February.

It was also down from last March when the rate was 8.1%.

Pacific County was the seventh highest in the state with an unemployment rate of 6.9%.

That is up from their February rate of 6.6%, but down from last March when it was 8.2%.

The unemployment numbers are expected to rise due to the work stoppages caused by the Coronavirus.

Grays Harbor	February 2020	March 2020*	March 2019
Labor Force	29,442	28,678	29,114
Total Employment	27,366	26,738	26,749
Total Unemployment	2,076	1,940	2,365
Unemployment Rate	7.1%	6.8%	8.1%

*Latest month non-seasonally adjusted

Pacific County	February 2020	March 2020*	March 2019
Labor Force	8,554	8,386	8,254
Total Employment	7,988	7,810	7,580
Total Unemployment	566	576	674
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	6.9%	8.2%