LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP IN JUNE

  

Washington County’s unemployment rose over one full percentage point last month.

For the month of June, the county reported a 6.5% jobless rate.  That number is up from 5.3% in May—ending a string of three straight months in which the county’s unemployment rates fell.

A total of 806 Washington County residents were unemployed in May, and that number increased drastically to 1,001 last month.

The county’s employment numbers dropped from 14,396 in May to 14,292 last month, while, the civilian labor force inched upward from 15,202 in May to 15,293 in June.

Washington County held an unemployment rate of 7.4% in June of last year, with 1,135 people out of work as the COVID-19 pandemic affected businesses.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 6.5%, down 0.1% from 6.6% in May.