Thurston jobless rate falls to new low of 6.9 percent in October

Thurston County's jobless rate fell to an almost four-year low in October, dropping to 6.9 percent last month from 7.3 percent in September, according to state Employment Security Department data released Tuesday.

October's unemployment rate was the lowest since a 7.2 percent jobless rate in January 2009, the data show. Seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment also fell in the September-to-October period, down to 8.2 percent from 8.5 percent. The national unemployment rate in October was 7.9 percent.

Regional jobless rates for October, not seasonally adjusted:

-Kitsap County: 6.6 percent.

-King County (Seattle, Bellevue): 6.7 percent.

-Thurston County: 6.9 percent.

-Pierce County: 8 percent.

-Mason County: 9.4 percent.

-Lewis County: 11.3 percent.

-Grays Harbor County: 11.3 percent.

For more on this story, see Wednesday's Olympian.