More Tri-Citians may be getting paychecks, but it isn’t business as usual

As industries begin to open in Benton and Franklin counties, more people are pocketing paychecks again.

In August, the unemployment rate in Benton County fell from 10.5 percent in July to 8.4 percent, while Franklin County’s is down from 11.3 percent to 8.9 percent, according to Washington State Employment Security Department.

This follows closely to the statewide jobless rate of 8.5 percent and 8.4 percent across the nation.

This means more than 3,600 fewer people filed unemployment claims in August for both counties, and nearly 2,000 more people were in the workplace.

Over the past couple of months, the state has given the approval for the Benton Franklin Health District to move forward on allowing more activities, which puts paychecks back into the pockets of residents.

While neither county is yet in Phase 2 of the COVID reopening plan, what is permitted under modified Phase 1 has been expanded to include limited indoor dining, limited gym activities, outdoor fitness classes, outdoor card rooms and more.

Even as more employees are back on the job, the Tri-Cities area still has a long way to return to jobless rates before the COVID pandemic.

In April, the Tri-Cities had an unemployment rate of 6 percent, and in August 2019 the unemployment rate was only 4.9 percent.