Cowlitz County’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 12.9 percent last month but was the highest statewide, the state’s Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.

September’s county jobless rate dropped from 13.2 percent in August and has hovered around the 13 percent for five months.

“It’s always going to go up and down. The main point is — it’s high,” said Scott Bailey, a regional economist for Employment Security.

Last month’s rate is five points higher than a year ago and was the county’s highest September jobless rate since 1982, when it hit 15.8 percent.

Cowlitz County gained 100 jobs in September, mostly from new hires in schools, according to Employment Security. The government sector added 600 jobs over the month but remains 100 jobs down from last year.

The closure of the Cameron Glass wine-bottle plant in Kalama fueled the loss of 100 manufacturing jobs in September. Manufacturing has lost 600 jobs over the year.

About 2,600 county residents filed continued unemployment claims in September, up 85 percent from a year ago. About 250 people exhausted their state unemployment benefits and are eligible for federal aid.

Cowlitz and Clark counties had the second highest unemployment in the state in August, trailing Pend Oreille County in northeastern Washington. But Cowlitz nudged into the dubious No. 1 spot in September, despite its slight decline in joblessness.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate jumped to 9.3 percent in September, up from 9 percent the previous month.

With industrial production and sales slowly rising, some economists have declared the nationwide recession over, according to media reports. However, the labor market has continued to decline, which is prolonging the recession, Bailey said.

“I think it’s much too early to call,” he said.

Also in September, unemployment:

n Dropped to 11.5 percent in Wahkiakum County, down from 12.9 percent in August and up from 6.3 percent in September 2008.

n Fell to 10.9 percent in Pacific County, down from 11 percent in August and up from 7 percent in September 2008.

n Declined to 12.1 percent in Lewis County, down from 12.2 percent in August and up from 7.1 percent in September 2008.

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