By Rachel Pritchett
rpritchett@kitsapsun.com
Unemployment in Kitsap County rose to 7.8 percent in February, up from an adjusted 7.4 percent in January, according to new numbers released this morning from the state Department of Employment Security.
Some 9,690 persons were without work in February locally.
A year ago, Kitsap’s rate was 4.8 percent.
Statewide, the rate also rose in Feburary, to 8.4 percent from 7.8 percent in January, more proof the stubborn recession is sticking around in the Pacific Northwest.
The state lost an estimated 28,200 jobs last month, and now has close to 100,000 fewer jobs than this time a year ago.
An estimated 330,572 persons in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in February, a new record.
Job declines were sharpest in professional and business services, transportation, utilities, construction and manufacturing.
The county with the highest February unemployment rate was Wahkiakum County in Southwest Washington, at 14.6 percent.
The lowest was Whitman County in Eastern Washington, at 5 percent.
