RITZVILLE — More nonfarm jobs came to Adams County in the second half of 2016, and contributed to a slight drop in unemployment in February 2017.

The county’s annual average unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of one percent between February 2016 and February 2017. Unemployment went from 10 percent to 9.8 percent, said Don Meseck, regional labor economist with the Washington Employment Security department.

For all of 2016, the average annual unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down from 7 percent in 2015. “The local nonfarm economy has been advancing for the past eight months, July 2016 through February 2017,” Meseck wrote.

“In February 2017 there were 160 more jobs in Adams County (5,700 jobs) than in February 2016 (5,540 jobs), a 2.9 percent uptrend.” Between February 2016 and February 2017, the labor force grew by four-tenths of one percent, while the number of unemployed dropped slightly. “A step in the right direction for the local economy,” Meseck wrote.

Manufacturing jobs grew by 30 between February 2016 and February 2017, “as employment rose from 1,060 (jobs) to 1,090, a 2.8 percent upturn,” Meseck wrote. “Year over year, employment in Adams County’s manufacturing industry has expanded for the past eight months, July 2016 through February 2017.”

The construction sector added 10 jobs when the two Februaries are compared.

Year over year, employment in the retail trade sector has increased for the past 11 months, April 2016 to February 2017, Meseck said. Between the Februaries, retail trade added 20 jobs, a 3.3 percent increase.

Government is one of the biggest nonfarm employment sectors in Adams County. Government, federal, state and local, added 20 jobs between February 2016 and February 2017, a 1.2 percent increase. “Many government positions in rural counties are with local public school districts, police and fire departments, the U.S. Postal Service, public health care providers, etc.”

The wholesale trade sector lost 20 jobs when the two Februaries are compared, but the transportation/warehousing sector added 20 jobs. Employment in education and health services remained unchanged.

Agriculture-sector jobs are measured over a 10-year period and count ag jobs covered by the Washington Employment Security Act. In Adams County the ag industry accounted for about 28.2 percent of total covered employment, up from 26.7 percent in 2004.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].