Jobs Scarce in Yakima County as Jobless Rate Climbs

With Yakima County still in phase-one of the governor's stay-at-home order the unemployment rate is growing almost as fast as cases of COVID-19. According to the latest figures from the Employment Security Department April's unemployment rate was 13.9%. In March the rate was 6.7%.
Statewide the April unemployment rate was 15.8%
The key to driving down the unemployment numbers is to reopen the local economy. However because of a daily rise in COVID-19 numbers health officials say they have no idea when Yakima County will be approved the move into phase-2 of the reopening plan.