By BY robbie BYRD, NEWS EDITOR
With a sagging economy and several area layoffs and company closings, Escambia County's jobless rate has climbed two points since the same time last year.
Things may be looking up however, with the unemployement rate steadily dropping for the year.
Statistics for August 2002 were at 9 percent, dropping .1 percent from July of 2002.
For August 2001, the precentage of those without emplyment stood at 6 percent.
Janice Grayson, with the Escambia County Unemployment Office, said the rate incresase is due to rcent closings in the county.
20 county residents received employment from July to August, Grayson said.
Those unemployed in the county stood at 1,550 at the end of August. For the same month last year, 1,030 people were without jobs.
For more information on state and national statistics, visit the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations website at http://www.dir.state.al.us.