Local jobless rate shows improvement

SANDPOINT — Bonner County’s jobless rate is going down.

In May, the county’s jobless rate declined slightly to 5.3 percent compared to 5.4 percent in April, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

“The unemployment rate dropped largely because of many different sectors expanding their hiring slightly,” said Kathryn Tacke, Labor economist, said of employment in the region. “Among the industries that have done considerable hiring in the last few months are call centers, retail, leisure and hospitality and temporary help agencies.”

Between May 2014 and May 2015, about 30 more Bonner County residents became employed — 18,313 compared to 18,283, Tacke said. There were 1,242 residents unemployed in May 2014 compared to 965 in May 2015.

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