Grays Harbor County placed ninth in the state in total unemployment in February at 8.6 percent after posting the 10th highest rate in January, according to the latest report from the State Employment Security Department.

Out of a civilian labor force of 28,890 in February, 26,401 were employed, leaving 2,489 listed as unemployed.

According to the state, the numbers of employed within the county rose by 561 from January, but the total number of unemployed also went up by 148. Compared to statistics from February 2018, when the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, 550 more people were employed in February than were last year, but there were 287 more on unemployment compared to last February.

Pacific County unemployment dropped from 8.3 percent in January to 7.9 percent in February. The labor force grew by 33, total employment was up by 6, and the number of unemployed fell by 39 between January and February, according to the state. Total unemployment stood at 665 in February, exactly where it stood in February 2018, when the unemployment rate was 8 percent.