The Tri-City economy continues to lead the state, with nonfarm jobs up more than 4 percent since a year ago.

A report released Tuesday says nonfarm jobs grew to 92,800 in March, up by 3,900 since March 2007. That follows an increase of about 900 nonfarm jobs since the end of February, said Dean Schau, regional labor economist.

Gains were reported in professional and business services, health services and manufacturing including food processing and wine production, Schau said.

Rob Griffin, winemaker and co-owner of Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland, said many wineries have expanded facilities and increased wine production, creating new jobs and adding to the tax base over the last two years. That growth has had a multiplier effect of creating new jobs elsewhere in the economy, he said.

While total jobs have grown, the unemployment rate for Benton and Franklin counties increased from 5.4 percent in March 2007 to 5.7 percent in March 2008, according to preliminary assessments.

About 7,000 workers were without a job in March out of a labor force of 120,080. Job seekers seen at WorkSource Columbia Basin increased from 1,335 in February to 1,423 in March.

But Schau said the marginal increase in the unemployment rate this year needs to be seen in the context of an increase in the number of workers. The work force totaled 114,230 a year ago.

"We're still the fastest growing community in the state," Schau said.

Statewide, nonfarm jobs grew 1.5 percent over the year. Spokane's nonfarm jobs grew 0.5 percent and Yakima grew 1.3 percent.

Schau said agriculture, wholesale trade and the health care sector will create new jobs in coming months, but growth may slow because continuing increases in commodity prices may make some business owners put expansion plans on hold. Also, wages aren't going to rise as fast as prices, he said.

Construction won't generate as many jobs because there is less activity, said Jeff Losey, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities. Commercial construction projects were off by $11 million in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year, he said.

But Losey added that residential housing construction trends parallel last year. The number of building permits issued in the Tri-Cities in the first quarter was 335, compared with 337 for the same period last year.

Tourism growth also is expected to help create new jobs in the summer, Schau said.

There's been a consistent demand for hotel office managers and office workers, said Candice Bluechel, business services manager at WorkSource. She said employers also are looking for customer service representatives, health care workers, engineers, teachers and general labor.

More than 900 jobs were available in the bicounty area on Tuesday, according to her database, and she said the local economy remains strong.

Bluechel said the job market will expand further as the agriculture season continues. A special job fair to help employers find ag workers will be held May 22, she said.

Statewide, Evelina Tainer, chief economist for the Employment Security Department, predicted, "We'll see slow growth."

The state's unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in March, up from 4.5 percent in February. More than 3,000 jobs were lost in leisure and hospitality, transportation, warehousing and utilities and construction -- the first monthly decline since September.

Over the last year, the state added 43,400 new nonagricultural jobs.

Tainer said she doesn't think the state is due for a recession, but the banking industry needs to be monitored closely to gauge the economic pulse.

She predicted Washington won't see a pronounced decline as is being reported from other parts of the country, adding that Boeing, Microsoft and agricultural exports will help keep the economy healthy. "I've got a positive outlook."

Jobless rates elsewhere

Unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted, in metropolitan areas around the state were: Bellingham, 5.1 percent; Bremerton, 5.3; Longview, 8.1; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, 5.9; Olympia, 5.3; Spokane, 6.1; Tacoma, 5.9; Wenatchee, 6.2; and Yakima, 7.7.

These labor market areas also were reported: Aberdeen, 8.1 percent; Centralia, 8.5; Ellensburg, 6.6; Moses Lake, 7.4; Oak Harbor, 5.7; Port Angeles, 7.7; Pullman, 4.2; Shelton, 8.1; and Walla Walla, 5.7.

Unemployment rates in other counties were: Adams, 6.3 percent; Asotin, 6.1; Chelan, 6.4; Clark, 6.9; Columbia, 8.3; Douglas, 5.8; Ferry, 12.7; Garfield, 5.4; Jefferson, 5.9; King, 3.6; Klickitat, 10.1; Lincoln, 6.4; Okanogan, 8.7; Pacific, 7.9; Pend Oreille, 9.9; San Juan, 4.3; Skamania, 8.9; Snohomish, 4.3; Stevens, 9.9; and Wahkiakum, 7.6.