Consistent growth in the local job market makes the Tri-Cities an island of prosperity amid a sea of nationwide economic gloom, says the regional labor economist.

Last month, about 2,000 jobs were added to the Tri-City economy, thanks to continuing demand for construction, wholesale trade and professional services, says a report released Tuesday.

In contrast to February's estimated 92,200 nonfarm jobs in the Tri-Cities, Spokane County had 216,200 and Yakima County had 78,300. But Benton and Franklin counties added 4,900 jobs over the year compared with 2,300 for Spokane County and 1,800 for Yakima County.  

There were an estimated 6,700 jobs in construction last month, up by 500 year over year, he added.

The Tri-City housing market still is buoyant, said Candice Bluechel, business services manager at WorkSource. Driving around in the Tri-Cities, one can't miss numerous projects that are just getting off the ground, she said.

Additionally, growth in manufacturing, retail and professional services sectors has helped create jobs.

The unemployment rate in the bicounty area fell from 6.6 percent in January to 6.3 percent in February. An estimated 7,460 people out of the labor force of 118,710 were unemployed last month. Much of it is cyclical, Schau said.

Generally, with the influx of newcomers, the local labor force grows almost at the same pace as jobs grow in the community, he said.

Schau said the job market will continue to grow as the weather warms up and agricultural employment ramps up. About 12,000 ag-related jobs will be added in the next few months, he said.

The declining value of the dollar and the rise in prices for agricultural commodities will help ag exporters immensely, he said.

Hundreds of new jobs also will become available at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center later this year. Local hospitals' proposed plans to expand medical services will continue to generate a demand for qualified medical professionals and health technicians, Bluechel said.

Just because the national economy is doing badly is no reason to think the trend will arrive sooner or later in the Tri-Cities, she said.

Employers have been looking for journeymen and apprentices in various trades, she said.

About 9.6 percent of all nonfarm job growth in the state over the last 12 months took place in the Tri-Cities, Schau said. Federal funding for Hanford is helping keep the job market strong, he said.

Jobs in the Mid-Columbia food processing industry, which includes wine-making, grew more than 13 percent in the second and third quarters of 2007, Schau said.

Agri-production is helping stimulate the wholesale trade and transportation sector, which has added about 300 jobs since February 2007. Schau said even a 1 percent drop in the dollar's exchange value makes American exports very competitive.

Though the retail sector lost about 100 jobs in February, it added 400 jobs over the year. The financial and real estate sector held steady last month but was up by 100 on the yearly job count.

The recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey also says Tri-City employers are expected to hire at a brisk pace during the second quarter of 2008. It also says job prospects appear best in construction, services, transportation and financial services.

Schau said despite a steady increase in gas and food prices, the local restaurant and hotel industry has managed to create about 300 jobs. The good average wages for Tri-City workers help drive consumer spending locally, Schau said, adding the stimulus payment from the federal government may provide another strong push.

That reflects a statewide trend, said Evelina Tainer, chief economist for the Employment Security Department. "We're still spending," she said. Washington wasn't hit by the housing crisis experienced in Florida, Nevada and Arizona or the downsizing in the auto industry in the Midwest.

Also, population growth is helping create a demand for housing and other services throughout the state, especially in Eastern Washington, Tainer said.

In Western Washington, Boeing and Microsoft are doing well, she said. In the last year, Washington created 50,700 nonfarm jobs, an increase of 1.7 percent compared with the national job growth rate of 0.6 percent in the same period. The state's unemployment rate in February stood at 4.5 percent, same as in January.

Unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted, in metropolitan areas around the state: Bellingham, 5.1 percent; Bremerton, 5.1; Longview, 8.1; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, 6.0; Olympia, 5.2; Spokane, 6.4; Tacoma, 5.6; Wenatchee, 6.9; and Yakima, 8.4.

These labor market areas also were reported: Aberdeen, 8.1 percent; Centralia, 9.7; Ellensburg, 6.9; Moses Lake, 8.6; Oak Harbor, 5.6; Port Angeles, 8; Pullman, 4.2; Shelton, 8.1; and Walla Walla, 6.2.

Unemployment rates in these counties were: Adams, 9.2 percent; Asotin, 6.4; Chelan, 7; Clark, 6.9; Columbia, 8.4; Douglas, 6.7; Ferry, 11.7; Garfield, 6.2; Jefferson, 5.8; King, 3.7; Klickitat, 9.9; Lincoln, 6.9; Okanogan, 9.3; Pacific, 7.5; Pend Oreille, 9.7; San Juan, 4.3; Skamania, 9.3; Snohomish, 4.4; Stevens, 9.2; and Wahkiakum, 7.5.