MOSES LAKE - Grant County's unemployment rate increased slightly from January and reached 12.7 percent in February.

It increased by seven-tenths of a percent from the previous month, according to Mark Berreth, a regional labor economist with the state Employment Security Department.

Some of the reason is due to the seasonal nature of agriculture work.

Expanding job sectors in Grant County include service providing and goods producing, which have done well in the last few years, he said. Other growth areas include retail, financial activities and some trade and transportation.

He explains the construction industry appears to have bottomed out in 2011, as there was flat growth in 2010 to 2011. Although it appeared there was a significant amount of construction activity last year, the numbers were brought down by companies outside Grant County doing the hiring.

"They are getting those employment figures, not us," Berreth said.

Grant County mostly followed the state's pattern of positive improvements in year-over-year comparisons in manufacturing, and retail trade, leisure and hospitality, he explained.

Grant County had the highest unemployment rate of the four area counties, Adams, 12.2 percent, Okanogan, 12 percent, and Chelan and Douglas, 9.6 percent. Chelan and Douglas counties are a combined area.

Grant County has always had slightly higher rates, because there is more agricultural work and nondurable goods manufacturing tapering off in January, February and March, he explained.

"Those are major factors," Berreth said.

The measure of buying habits, consumer confidence, starting to improve during the last quarter of 2011, with an overall upward trend in January 2012.

Consumer expectations were slightly down and showed an upward trend in the last three months. Consumer confidence measures buying habits and expectations in the cases of planned purchases, such as a trip or house purchase.

The national leading indicator or manufacturers' new orders dipped in February, but is showing a strong upward trend, he explained.