PORT ANGELES – Clallam County’s unemployment rate rose again last month.

According to data from Washington State Employment Security, the county had an unemployment rate of 7%. That’s up another tenth of a percent from June and follows a trend of rising numbers that began earlier this year.

The data shows the number of people employed went up by about 260 people between June and July. The potential labor force also grew, which contributed to the increase in unemployment percentage.

July’s local unemployment rate is significantly higher than July of last year, when the county’s rate was nearly two full percentage point lower.

It is also higher than the state’s unemployment rate, which is now 4.5%.

Neighboring Jefferson County’s July unemployment rate was also up a tenth of a percent to 6.3%.