Gadzooks. Tri-City economy expands again

The Tri-City economy continues its growth streak with another month of falling unemployment.

Construction and hospitality continue to be growth drivers, according to figures released Tuesday by the Washington Employment Security Department.

Washington’s unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in September.

In the Tri-Cities, it fell to 4.6 percent, the lowest level in recent years. A year earlier, the Tri-City unemployment rate was 5.9 percent. Locally, unemployment tends to inch up beginning in October as construction winds down in the cold winter months.

Construction employment was up 1,100 jobs compared to the earlier year and leisure and hospitality employment was up 400 positions.

The local civilian labor force grew to 139,415, with 133,034 employed and 6,381 actively seeking work.

This story was originally published October 24, 2017 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Gadzooks. Tri-City economy expands again."