RITZVILLE — Unemployment in Adams County dropped in May, both when compared with May 2016 and April 2016.

The nonfarm unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 5.5 percent in May 2016 compared to 5.9 percent in May 2015. That’s also a decline from April’s unemployment rate of 6.3 percent, said Don Meseck, regional labor economist for the Washington Employment Security Department. “The number of unemployed residents declined and the local labor force expanded,” Meseck wrote.

But the number of non-farm jobs available in Adams County declined between May 2015 and May 2016, Meseck said. “Year over year, nonfarm employment in Adams County has decreased for the past 11 months, July 2015 through May 2016. In May 2016 there were 240 fewer nonfarm jobs in Adams County than in May 2015.” The county lost 240 jobs, a 4.1 percent downturn, he said. “Certainly discouraging news for the local economy.”

Adams County’s civilian labor force expanded by 252 people between May 2015 and May 2016. “Since the (labor force) expanded year over year while nonfarm employment contracted, it is likely that many of the residents who re-entered the labor force this May are working the county’s agricultural sector.”

Job growth declined in Adams County between May 2015 and May 2016; the county had 240 fewer nonfarm jobs. That bucks the state trend of 3.2 percent job growth, Meseck said.

“Year over year, employment in Adams County’s manufacturing industry has stagnated or contracted for the past 12 months. Most manufacturing jobs in Adams County are food processing related.” That sector lost 20 jobs between May 2015 and May 2016.

The “mining, logging and construction” sector, which in Adams County is mostly construction, was one of the few to add jobs over the year, with 10 new jobs. Wholesale trade employment remained the same year over year.

But retail trade employment dropped, losing 20 jobs between May 2015 and May 2016. “Year over year, retail trade employment in Adams County has either stagnated or declined for the past six months, December 2015 through May 2016,” Meseck wrote.

Jobs in the education and health services sector declined by 100 jobs over the year, “a substantial 12.8 percent downturn,” Meseck wrote. Jobs in government also declined, from 1,660 in May 2015 to 1,590 in May 2016. “Year over year, Adams County’s government sector has been shrinking from October 2015 through May 2016.”

Adams County and Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties lost jobs when May 2015 is compared to May 2016. Okanogan, Kittitas and Yakima counties all gained jobs in that time frame, but at a slower pace than the rest of the state.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.