Kitsap entered the holiday hiring season with more jobs than in previous years.
About 88,700 people were working for Kitsap companies in October, according to preliminary numbers from the state Employment Security Office. That was about 1,700 more than were employed in October 2014.
Numbers were up in the private sector, but the public sector posted a bigger gain, with an increase of about 1,200 jobs.
Here’s a graphical look at October job numbers:
Employment/unemployment
Kitsap’s labor force (the total number of residents working or seeking work) remained lower than previous years, but began to climb in October, as is typical for the season.
About 1,250 people entered the workforce between September and October.
Overall employment among Kitsap residents still fell slightly in October, and remains lower than in recent years.
The county’s unemployment rate remained steady at 5 percent.
Here’s a graphical look at employment trends:
