A state labor economist characterized an 1.5 increase in unemployment in Island County over the last year as “a large jump,” but he said it’s just a local reflection of the national economy.

The state Employment Security Department reported this week that the unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, for Island County was 6.2 percent in August. A year ago, it was 4.7 percent.

By comparison, the non-adjusted unemployment rate for the state was 5.8 percent in August. Skagit had a rate of 6.3 percent and King County’s rate was 4.4 percent.

In Island County, 2,080 people have reported being unemployed in a labor force of 33,470. Statewide, more than 200,000 people are without jobs.

Joe Giannamore, the regional labor economist for northwest Washington, said joblessness is a fairly good indicator of the state of the economy. For Island County, the current rate is “definitely higher than average.”

“It’s nothing specific to Island County,” he said. “It’s happening nationwide. Unemployment is rising and the economy is sluggish. People in Island County are going to feel it as well.”

Giannamore said the statistics only represent the civilian labor force. Active duty military members are not included in the numbers.

In the past, local officials have suggested that the county would be somewhat insulated from national economic woes because of the presence of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, which they suggested would have a stabilizing effect on the economy.

Giannamore predicted that the county’s unemployment rate may continue to rise, perhaps by half a percentage point in the next six months.

“There won’t be another big jump,” he said.

As for the economy, he predicts continued sluggish growth for the next two or three quarters.

“Things should start to change by the middle of next summer,” he opined.

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