While the national unemployment rate is hovering above 10 percent the rate in Pierce County was 8.8 percent in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Pierce County unemployement rate for September 2008 was 5.4 percent, with 21,300 people unemployed and a labor force of 392,020.

According to the latest data from the Employment Security Department 35,450 people in the eligible workforce are unemployed in Pierce County. The county labor force in September was 365,760.